Jessica Rainbow

Dr. Jessica Rainbow, PhD, RN, CNE's research focuses on developing, adapting, and implementing work system interventions and policies that improve hospital nurses' health and safety. She studies nursing workforce health with an emphasis on burnout, presenteeism, mental health, and pregnancy and postpartum health. She currently leads two funded lines of research. First, as Co-PI of a five-year NINR-funded R01 testing a human factors-informed, user-centered process intervention that engages nurses in redesigning their unit work systems to reduce burnout. This trial aims to generate a scalable, system-level approach that shifts the burden of addressing burnout away from individual nurses and toward organizational change. Second,  she leads a pilot-funded program examining occupational chemical exposures in lactating nurses, including levels of cleaning chemicals and PFAS in breastmilk. Her research portfolio extends on nurse mental health and pregnancy health. In addition to her scholarship, Dr. Rainbow is award-winning mentor who is passionate about supporting and collaborating with PhD students. Across her work, she aims to generate evidence that informs organizational policies and interventions that support nurses across the reproductive life course and strengthen the health, safety, and sustainability of the nursing workforce.