Clinical Impact
The Compassionate Care Initiative focuses on healthcare worker well-being and improved clinical practice by equipping them with practical tools, resources, and offering them experiences they need to stay and thrive in healthcare.
We do this through a variety of strategic on-the-ground activities, including professional development and support, showing up at special events with resources for self-care and joy in work, and stimulating knowledge about practical activities to strengthen practitioners' self-care, building activities that center togetherness, and by deepening healthcare workers sense of satisfaction in and engagement with their jobs, their purpose, the people they serve, and their colleagues.
Once a month, CCI staffers and student ambassadors team up with a therapy dog to round with the CCI Cart at UVA Health. The cart offers a brief break to team members where they are, in the moment. Laden with small gifts, healthy snacks, well-being resources, and the opportunity to stretch, team members often say: "This is the best part of my day!" We always look forward to cart days too, as it is a small, but meaningful way to express our gratitude for their care and compassion towards our community.
We will re-open the form, in Summer 2025, to request a visit - stay tuned!
Early career nurses are especially vulnerable to burnout and leaving the workforce. CCI supports the well-being of new nurses by providing education in self-care and resilience, using evidence-based practices that foster everyday mindfulness, mattering, and compassion for themselves and others.
Offered in collaboration with UVA's FEAP, this training began with a successful pilot study in the UVA Health University Medical Center's pediatric Nurse Residency Program. In 2025, it will also be offered to all adult Nurse Residency Program participants.
Want to learn more? Contact us.
The revolution of The Medical Pause was started more than a decade ago by CCI Ambassador and Facilitator Jonathan Bartels, in response to the stressors that accompany death as healthcare providers. It is simple and not difficult. It is not meant to cure the uneasiness that accompanies death; it is just one tool of many to help support resiliency. Created by Jonathan, this website is a portal to help facilitate education, research and connection to The Medical Pause.
'The Pause' Badge Buddy
Any UVA Health team members who would like to request 'The Pause' badge buddy for themselves or their team, please complete this Qualtrics form (NetBadge log-in required) and we will send them to you.
CCI Director Lili Powell has a unique joint appointment with UVA School of Nursing and UVA Darden Graduate School of Business. For many years, she has taught on the topic of 'Mindful Leadership' with business professionals and has since adapted the subject matter for healthcare. Below are related articles and resources.
- "How to Improve the Pathway Between Intentions and Results" in Leader to Leader by Jeremy Hunter and Lili Powell
- "Leadership Kindness" in Darden Ideas to Action by Lili Powell
- Powell, E. (2021). Showing Up With Grit and Grace: How to Lead Under Pressure as a Nurse Clinician and Leader. In D. Fontaine, T. Cunningham, & N. B. May. (Eds.), Self-care handbook for new and student nurses ( ed., pp. 472-500). Sigma Nursing.
- Read Chapter 23: Showing Up with Grit and Grace in full.
- Purchase the entire book on Sigma Marketplace, here.
- "How to Recapture Leadership's Lost Moment" in Leader to Leader by Lili Powell and Jeremy Hunter
