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Whole-Person Research Overview

Caring for our clinicians guides much of our research within AdventHealth. We know that promoting the well-being of the health care workforce impacts the safety and quality of care provided to patients, as well as the recruitment and retention of team members. Ultimately, caring for team members is simply the right thing for health care organizations to do.

Our work focuses on identifying and addressing stress contributors for health care workers. We study interventions intended to build coping and recovery skills and greater understanding. Ultimately, we want our research to help clinicians reconnect to meaning and purpose in their work and promote whole-person health — body, mind and spirit — for our community.

Connect with our team by calling 407-303-7128 or emailing us.

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Publication List*

To read more about our work, see our publications listed below.

(*Availability of full text based on institutional or personal subscription)

Bailey, A.K., Sawyer, A.T., and Robinson, P.S. (2021). A psychoeducational group intervention for nurses: Rationale, theoretical framework, and development. Journal of the American Psychiatric Nurses Association, 10783903211001116. Advanced online publication. https://doi.org/10.1177/10783903211001116 Full text

Bailey, A.K., Sawyer, A.T., Tao, H. Durr, L.I., Sabapathy, R., Lajeunesse, A., Hall, T. The Intentional Practitioner: Evaluating the impact of a well-being retreat for physicians and advanced practice providers. To be submitted.

Celano, T., Harris, S., Sawyer, A.T., and Hamilton, T. (2022). Promoting spiritual well-being among nurses. Nurse Leader, 20(2), 188–192. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mnl.2021.08.002 Full text

Green, J.F., Brennan, A.M., Sawyer, A.T., Celano, P. and Robinson, P.S. (2022) Self-care laddering: A new program to encourage exemplary self-care. Nurse Leader. Accepted for publication

Harris, S. L., Green, J. F., Tao, H., and Robinson, P.S. (2021). Examining associations with mental well-being and faith in nurses (LIFT). The Journal of Nursing Administration, 51(2), 106–113. https://doi.org/10.1097/NNA.0000000000000978 Full text

Harris, S. L., Sawyer, A. T., Tao, H. and Bailey, A. K. A mixed-methods pilot study of a well-being intervention for healthcare chaplains. Submitted for publication.

Harris, S., and Tao, H. (2022). The impact of U.S. nurses' religious and spiritual beliefs on their mental well-being and burnout: A path analysis. Journal of Religion and Health, 61(3), 1772–1791. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10943-021-01203-y Full text

McManus, K., and Robinson, P.S. (2022). A thematic analysis of the effects of compassion rounds on clinicians and the families of NICU patients. Journal of Health Care Chaplaincy, 28(1), 69–80. https://doi.org/10.1080/08854726.2020.1745489 Full text

McManus, K., and Robinson, P.S. (2021). Evaluation of NICU health care providers' experience of Patient Ethics and Communication Excellence (PEACE) rounds. Advances in Neonatal Care, 21(2), 142–151. https://doi.org/10.1097/ANC.0000000000000774 Full text

Robinson P.S. (2022). Last Responders. Journal of Psychosocial Nursing and Mental Health Services, 60(7), 2–3. https://doi.org/10.3928/02793695-20220610-02 Full text

Sawyer, A.T., and Bailey, A.K. (2022). Beyond clinical competence: Prioritizing and supporting nurses' mental and spiritual health. Journal of Psychosocial Nursing and Mental Health Services, 60(8), 3–5. https://doi.org/10.3928/02793695-20220705-01 Full text

Sawyer, A.T., Harris, S., Green, J.F., Du, Y., Richard, T., Robinson, P.S., Celano, P., Kelly, K., and Bailey, A.K. (2022). Clinical Leader Series: A virtual mental well-being initiative for nurse leaders during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond. The Journal of Nursing Administration, 52(3), 177–184. https://doi.org/10.1097/NNA.0000000000001126 Full text

Sawyer, A.T., Bailey, A.K., Green, J.F., Sun, J., and Robinson, P.S. (2021). Resilience, Insight, Self-Compassion, and Empowerment (RISE): A randomized controlled trial of a psychoeducational group program for nurses. Journal of the American Psychiatric Nurses Association, 10783903211033338. Advanced online publication. https://doi.org/10.1177/10783903211033338 Full text

Sawyer A.T., Pepe J., Robinson P.S., Bailey A.K. and Sun J. (2022) Employment status of nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic: A matched case-control study. The Journal of Nursing Administration. 52(11), 620-624. Full Text

Tully S. and Tao H. (2022) Gratitude practice to decrease work-related stress and burnout: A quantitative study of acute-care health professionals. Online Journal of Issues in Nursing. In press

Meet Our Team

Patricia Robinson, PhD, ARNP, NE-BC

Patricia Robinson, PhD, ARNP

Senior Director of Research

Amanda Bailey, MA, LMHC

Amanda Bailey, MA, LMHC

Psychotherapist, Biobehavioral Research Scientist II

Stephanie Harris, BA, MLS

Stephanie Harris, BA, MLS

Biobehavioral Research Scientist

Amanda T. Sawyer, PhD

Amanda T. Sawyer, PhD

Biobehavioral Research Scientist

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We work closely with our pharmaceutical teams to uncover ways to enhance our quality of care and make it affordable, connected and exceptional to the community we serve.

You could be part of the next breakthrough in pharmaceutical research. As a research study participant, you could:

  • Access new and innovative therapies that may not be available otherwise
  • Help advance medical knowledge and benefit future generations
  • Receive expert care and support from our experienced and compassionate team
  • Earn compensation for your time and travel expenses

By joining a research study, you are helping us develop better treatments, care and prevention for generations to come.

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