Andra Opalinski

Dr. Andra Opalinski serves as a tenured Associate Professor at Mercer University's Georgia Baptist College of Nursing, bringing over 20 years of experience teaching undergraduate and graduate nursing programs across four universities. Her clinical background spans two decades as a pediatric nurse and pediatric nurse practitioner, enhanced by nurse coaching certification and advanced training in mindfulness and Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR). Her interdisciplinary work bridges clinical practice, education, and research to address health disparities in vulnerable populations.

Education:

• PhD in Nursing, University of Colorado Health Sciences Center (2007)
• MSN in Nursing, University of Florida (2000)
• BSN in Nursing, Samford University (1994)

Dr. Opalinski's research centers on nurturing resilience through theoretical frameworks of caring science, flourishing, and spirituality-health intersections. She investigates resilience mechanisms in children, adolescents, nursing professionals, and clergy using qualitative methodologies and theory-guided literature reviews. Her work emphasizes practical applications for enhancing well-being in high-stress contexts, including homelessness and chronic illness management. Recent projects explore mindfulness interventions in educational settings and faith-based nutrition environments.

Analysis of her 2024-2025 publications reveals three dominant research trajectories: (1) resilience development in nursing students through theory-guided scoping reviews, (2) adolescent resilience experiences analyzed via Unitary Caring Theory, and (3) faith community impacts on child nutrition and obesity. These studies demonstrate interdisciplinary collaboration across nursing, public health, and education disciplines, with methodologies spanning phenomenology, concept analysis, and evidence-based practice projects.

Professional Credentials:

• Nurse Coach, American Holistic Nurses Credentialing Corporation (2015-2026)
• Certified Pediatric Nurse Practitioner-Primary Care (PNCB, 2001-2026)
• Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (Georgia Board of Nursing, 2023-2026)
• Registered Professional Nurse (Georgia Board of Nursing, 1996-2026)

Throughout her career, Dr. Opalinski has mentored nursing students across academic levels while developing innovative clinical interventions. Her presentations at national conferences like the International Association for Human Caring disseminate findings on resilience theory applications. Current work integrates telehealth coaching for dementia caregivers and mindfulness-based self-regulation programs, reflecting her commitment to translating research into practical healthcare solutions.