Exploring job crafting in nursing: a systematic review using the ADO-TCM framework

Purpose Job crafting (JC) has received considerable research attention in recent years, largely because of its role in reducing burnout and improving well-being. In the nursing context, however, comprehensive syntheses of this literature remain scarce. This study aims to systematically analyze, evaluate and synthesize this literature in order to identify research gaps and propose avenues for future research. Design/methodology/approach A systematic literature review was conducted using SPAR-4-SLR (scientific procedures and rationales for systematic literature reviews) protocol. Articles published between January 2015 and May 2026 was retrieved from Scopus, and a supplementary PubMed search was used to check coverage. Articles were screened against predefined eligibility criteria, and the strength of evidence was assessed by study design. Finally, 52 eligible studies were synthesized using the antecedents, decisions, outcomes, theories, context and methods (ADO-TCM) framework. Findings This review identified antecedents of JC among nurses at four levels, eight mediators, nine moderators and five outcome categories, and developed a resource-based model. Early studies viewed JC as job redesign under the job demands-resources model, whereas recent Conservation of Resources (COR) theory-based studies treat it as resource management, explaining why burnout and capability pressure reduce crafting. Most studies are cross-sectional and East Asian, limiting causal inference and generalizability. Originality/value Recent nursing-focused reviews have concentrated on well-being outcomes or on conceptual clarification of JC. This review complements them by mapping the mechanisms and boundary conditions of JC among nurses, proposing a resource-based integrative model, and translating the evidence into concrete, measurable implications for nursing managers and policymakers.