Jean Coffey, Nursing ‘77 Grad ‘96, has been named a Nurse Leader in the 2019 class of New Fellows of the American Academy of Nurse Leaders.
Induction into the academy is a significant milestone in a nurse leader’s career where their accomplishments are honored by those within the nursing discipline. Through a competitive and rigorous process, a committee of elected fellows review hundreds of applications. The new fellows are selected based on their impressive contributions to increase access, reduce cost and improve quality through nursing theory, practice and science.
After graduating from UVM with an associates of science degree in nursing, Coffey became a direct care nurse in acute cardiac care and pediatrics.
“This education was the foundation for all that followed in my career. My professors instilled in me the love of learning and the duty to always provide safe, science based, compassionate care to patients and families,” Coffey said. “Dr. Rosemary Dale (Clinical Professor and Chair of the UVM Department of Nursing) gave me my first job at the Medical Center Hospital of Vermont in June 1977. She has been an amazing mentor to me my entire career.”
Coffey earned a B.S. in nursing at Norwich University and returned to UVM to pursue a Community Health Nursing M.S. After completing a PhD in nursing at University of Connecticut, Coffey taught pediatric nursing at UVM from 2011-2014. She is a nationally certified pediatric nurse practitioner.
Dr. Coffey’s teaching, research and clinical work focuses on children with chronic health care needs and their families. She has worked as a clinical instructor and associate professor in undergraduate and graduate nursing and medical education programs at UVM and other universities throughout the northeast. She has held various nursing leadership roles including manager and director in hospital and community settings.
The fellows induction ceremony will coincide with the Academy's annual policy conference, Transforming Health, Driving Policy, on October 24-26, 2019 in Washington, D.C.