Jean Christopher has made a lasting impact on care at Akron Children’s and across the country.
The day Jean Christopher began working at Akron Children’s as a Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) in 2005, she was approached with a “little” project to work on. Twenty years later, this “little” project is continuing to shape central line associated blood stream infections (CLABSI) clinical work not only at Children’s, but around the country. Jean’s legacy has been lasting and impactful – and it all started with a simple visit to Akron Children’s.
Jean Christopher graduated from The Ohio State University with a bachelor’s in nursing degree in 1985. With a desire to further her education, she returned to school to achieve her master’s in nursing in Nursing Care of Children from Case Western Reserve University in 1989.
Building her career
Jean began her career at Akron Children’s in 2003 after visiting the hospital with her husband, Dr. Norm Christopher, who was the emergency room director at the time. During her visit, the nurse manager offered her an as-needed role in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) as a staff nurse. After several years, Jean worked with the critical care nursing director to develop a CNS position in 2005. She has served in this position for the last 20 years.
At the time, she had a very full plate. “My husband and I had 4 children under the age of 5, so we were busy!” shared Jean. But that did not stop her from creating a legacy at Akron Children’s. Her work with CLABSI for pediatric patients began the day she accepted the position.
Jean and her husband, Norm, enjoy the sights and sounds of Paris.
Leaving a legacy
“I was involved with 2 separate collaboratives to help reduce central line infections in pediatric critical care patients. This was the beginning of the CLABSI quality work,” Jean explained.
Her work changed the way providers inserted central lines and the way nurses cared for them, which predated Solutions for Patient Safety.
“We started in the PICU and reduced CLABSI by 89% in the first year. I was a part of the first group across the country to work on this. I feel like I have personally contributed to the reduction of CLABSI in pediatric patients.”
She also worked to improve early mobility in the PICU, and enhanced skin integrity for critically ill children.
Her contributions to pediatric clinical work did not go unnoticed. Jean was inducted as a Clinical Nurse Specialist Fellow in the inaugural class of 2019 in the CNS Institute. She is currently a member of the board of trustees. She received the Daisy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2024 for her devotion to compassionate care of others as well as the APP Lifetime Achievement Award in 2021.
Jean’s family celebrates her Daisy Lifetime Achievement Award.
“It was a very humbling, memorable experience – and I was very honored. It meant a lot to be recognized by the nurses I work with,” Jean expressed after receiving the Daisy Lifetime Achievement Award. “My husband, our children and our grandchildren surprised me in the audience, and they kept it all a secret!”
Jean was a member of the Advisory Panel for Child Health Corporation of America Reducing Harm from IV Infiltrates in 2011. She was also on the Advisory Panel for Children’s Hospital Association Diagnosing and Managing Sepsis Collaborative in 2012.
Someone to look up to
“Beyond her impressive credentials and awards, Jean has been a trusted colleague, a passionate advocate for children and a role model for clinical excellence. Her legacy will live on through the countless lives she has touched and the standards she has set for compassionate, evidence-based care,” said Stephanie Williams, director of nursing critical care and specialty care.
Excitement ahead
After an impactful career in nursing, Jean will retire on Dec. 31, 2025. She looks forward to an active retirement. Along with spending more time with her husband, children and grandchildren, Jean is excited to travel abroad and garden more. “I am a huge gardener and love spending time in my flower beds.” She is especially excited to take a trip to England to attend the Chelsea Flower Show and go on a weeklong tour of some famous gardens around London.
Jean looks forward to spending more time with her family.
“I am going with one of my best friends. We started as new graduate nurses together and she retired last year,” said Jean. “It is definitely a bucket list item!”
As Jean reflects on her time at Children’s, she remembers how much of a difference she was able to make and the way it made her feel. She will always remember her patients and families that made a lasting impact on her. “I kept one Christmas card, with a patients picture on it, pinned to my bulletin board for years. It really touched my heart,” she shared.
Do you want to have a successful career at Akron Children’s? We’re hiring, so check out our openings!
