This Just In: Nurse Burnout Shares Space With Other Healers

Image from alexgrey.com

 When you hear the word “healer”, what impressions are awakened and who do you think of? Most of us would naturally have an image of a well seasoned physician, a nurse in the trenches of a 12 hour shift or on the other spectrum, a Tibetan Lama or a Native American Medicine Man. Perhaps a wizard with a wand? Alakazam! How about an evangelist slamming his palm into a desperate disciple’s forehead, proclaiming that they will walk again? Then there is the lady with the crystal ball, the massage therapist, the Reiki practitioner, and the Buddha. What does the word healer mean? What does it mean to heal others? By pondering these questions, we healer folk will realize that there is no distinction between any of us. We are all on the same frequency, and the only issues that differ are the methods with which we are most intrinsically aligned. Therefore I digress, is there really “another spectrum” at all?

So let’s start peeling back this rose bud. Onions are okay also, but roses smell better. Use whatever visual geometry or olfactory sensibility which causes your heart to best connect with the concept. The act of healing is to have the desire to cure and or restore an individual to a state of health, ‘desire’ being the operative term. What is desire? Desire is not only the concrete ‘wanting’ of something, but it derives from a source which magnetically echoes and mirrors our authentic selves. Therefore, the act of healing or being a healer is a core truth, a trait, an archetype so to speak. It cannot be helped. This is a state of being which simply is, and as I previously mentioned, how one implements this self truth is the only distinction. The healer simply goes about their lives and purely energetically stumbles upon opportunities to cure and restore others to a state of health, by way of the law of attraction.


What is health? Very basically it is a state of balance and homeostasis; it is a condition where all the aspects of one’s selves are functioning beautifully and perfectly, because of the total sum of one self’s parts. This concept incorporates the multi faceted qualities of an individual, as well.


So a healer is an individual who has the desire through a mirror image of their authentic selves to restore others to a state of balance, personal cohesion and perfection. Does this broadened definition expand your perspective as to who a healer might be? It does for me. Suddenly, family caregivers, pastors, the go-to person in a family setting, a parent, a teacher, a public service worker and a best friend come to mind.


For optimal health and homeostasis to be realized, there are multiple groups of systems which require balance, for example, the physical systems, such as respiratory, cardiovascular and circulatory, muscular- skeletal, genito-urinary, etc. One with an interest and aptitude for human physiology with a healing core truth/ trait/archetype will most possibly find themselves becoming attracted to such careers as nursing, becoming a physician, or other professional clinical health related field.


Another group of human characteristics that make up a system which when functioning optimally results in a deep experience of wellness is the mind/body/spirit relationship. When there is an appreciation and acknowledgement of these states of interconnected attributes, there is a sense of balance, well being and this goes along with having a sense of connectedness to all living things, all of nature. The individual with a healing core truth/trait/archetype and an innate magnetic resonance to the subtle connections between the mind body and spirit may find themselves working as a holistic healer, counselor, an energy healer, or a spiritual nutritionist, for example.


A pastor identifies with healing humanity on a spiritual level; a mother, father grandparent or close relative intuitively is aware how to keep their children whole and is so deeply connected to them that they would rather suffer their pain for them, and so on.




By now, you are able to understand how an aptitude in addition to a core truth/trait/archetype will manifest into a particular method of healing, whether it is traditional, non-traditional, intentional or serendipitous in scope and nature.


What causes one to experience burnout if they are simply existing as their authentic selves and doing so many good things for so many people? Because of the healer’s natural propensity to do for and serve others, a possible subliminal expectation from the receiver of the healing can occur, creating a toxic feeling of resentment from the standpoint of the healer. A spiritual healer can experience burn out when they become energetically attached to the results of their client’s circumstances or lose faith in their work when the end result is not favorable, and spiritual healers are especially sensitive to others energies. A traditional healing professional, such as a nurse, physician or other skilled healthcare worker who enters their profession with a passionate heart may quickly feel the toxic effects of burnout, for corporate and top heavy conglomerate companies can represent the very antithesis of compassion. Very compassionate nurses and other traditional practitioners also tend to be very sensitive to surrounding energies. The healing professional is forced to be attached to the results of their care which comes at them from a point of accountability. This, albeit important, is the crux of the issue. To give compassionate care means to be unattached to the results. This equates the necessity for healthy boundaries and a good solid poised center. (What a circuitous yet marvelously designed roundabout way to develop these important truths).


As a nurse, a metaphysician, a holistic healer and the founder of a counseling practice I feel as though burnout is not preventable. I feel it is inevitable, and when it is recognized and embraced, it will be seen as what it represents: a pre destined gift, an opportunity for growth and a chance to develop inner peace and heightened sense of knowing.


To imply that burnout is preventable is to in a way invalidate one’s core truth, or archetype, and to deny the very human aspect of the healer. Every step that is made on our path is on behalf of our predetermined set of life lessons, blessings, riches and experiences. While externally derived comforts such as aromatherapy, (retail therapy) and fun nights out offer a temporary ease and escape from the symptoms, there are methods which are create a constant internal flow of love, peace and poise. But that’s the next publication.


In the meantime, Nurse Your Spirit!