Jean Sheerin Coffey

Ph.D., APRN, CPNP, FAAN

Director of Prelicensure Programs, Clinical Professor

Joint Appointment in School of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics

She/Her/Hers


Dr. Coffey has dedicated 4.5 decades of her nursing career to working with children and families. Her clinical work, leadership roles, teaching, and research have focused primarily on children with chronic health care needs and their families. She was the pediatric clinician on a team funded by the Katie Beckett grant that created the first pediatric high-tech home care program in Vermont. Her publication, “Parenting a Child with Chronic Illness; A Meta synthesis,” continues to be cited by researchers across the globe. She co-authored the first prospective study examining emergencies in pediatric primary care offices, published in Pediatrics in 2000. As part of a national Children in Nature advisory board, she contributed to the creation of one of the original nature prescriptions and went on to study the use of the prescription by pediatric primary care providers. Her publication “When Pediatric Primary Care Providers Prescribe Nature Engagement at a State Park, Do Children ‘Fill’ the Prescription?” has been cited as an example of superb translational research.

Research/Scholarship Interests

  • Children Chronic Illness
  • Children in Nature
  • Nursing Student Persistence

Education

  • Ph.D., University of Connecticut School of Nursing, 2006
  • Certificate of Advanced Study, Pediatric Primary Care, Northeastern University, 1999
  • MS in Nursing, University of Vermont, 1996
  • BS in Nursing, Norwich University, 1992
  • AS in Nursing, University of Vermont, 1977

Honors & Awards

  • 2019: Fellow American Academy of Nursing
  • 2015: Pediatric Primary Care Above and Beyond Award
  • 2012: Honor a Nurse for Teaching and Scholarship, Vermont State Nurses Association
  • 2012: Alumni Association Board of Directors Member, University of Connecticut School of Nursing
  • 2011: Clinical Expert Respiratory, National Association of Pediatric Nurses
  • 2010: Essex CHIPS Giraffe Award, Sticking Your Neck Out for Kids
  • 2004: Annabel Sharp Nursing Scholarship, University of Connecticut
  • 1999: National Community Award, Glaxo Wellcome
  • 1999: Outstanding Research Award, Innovations in Primary Care XIII, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT
  • 1998: Asthma Volunteer Award, American Lung Association of Vermont
  • 1996: Sigma Theta Tau Thesis Award, University of Vermont, School of Nursing
  • 1994: Essex Middle School Award for National Girls and Women’s Sports Day, Essex, VT
  • 1993: Inducted as Community Member, Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing
  • 1998-1990: Christmas Seal Chairperson Vermont Lung Association
  • 1991-1992: Presidential Fellow, Norwich University
  • 1988-1990: Christmas Seal Chairperson, Vermont Lung Association
  • 1988-1989: Outstanding Young Vermonter, Vermont Jaycees

Selected Publications

  • Coffey, J., Hill, J., Long, T. & McGrath, E. (Eds) (2023) Patients’ Lived Experiences During the Transplant and Cellular Therapy Journey; Harvest and Hope. Springer
  • Fagan, J. & Coffey, J. (2023) Despite Challenges II: Bridging The Gap to Success, Journal of College Student Retention, Research, Theory & Practice  doi 0 10.1177/15210251231170297
  • Fagan, J. & Coffey, J. (2019) Despite Challenges: Nursing Student Persistence, Journal of Nursing Education, 58 (7): 427-430
  • Coffey, J. & White, B. (2019) The Clinical Nurse Educator Role: A Snapshot in Time, Journal of Nursing Education, 50(5): 228-232
  • Coffey, J. (2019) Talking Dogs, Mushing Magazine, January/ February, #181
  • Coffey, J., (2019), in Primary Care: Interprofessional Collaborative Practice, 6th edition. Adolescent Chapter, in press for February 2020.
  • Coffey, J. and Gauderer, L. (2016) When Pediatric Primary Care Providers Prescribe Nature Engagement at a State Park, Do Children “Fill” the Prescription? Ecopsychology, 8(4): 207-214.
  • Coffey, J., (2015), Go Outside and Play, New Hampshire Parent Magazine, September
  • Coffey, J., (2013), Taking a Fresh Look the Pediatric Clinical Experience, Journal of Nursing Education, 52 (3), 123-24 (Guest Editorial)
  • Coffey, J., (2012) Asthma Triggers, Ready, Set, Grow, National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners, Fall Issue (Invited Article)
  • Coffey, J., Cloutier, M., Meadows-Oliver, M., and Terrazo, C., (2012), The Experience of Puerto Rican Families Who Bring Their Children to the Emergency Department for Asthma Care, Journal of Pediatric Health Care, 26(5), 356-363.
  • Coffey, J. in Ordinary Miracles in Nursing, (2006), Winstead-Fry, P., and Labovitz, D., Jones and Bartlett, New York (Invited Chapter)
  • Coffey, J., (2006), Parenting a Child with a Chronic Illness: A Meta-Synthesis, Pediatric Nursing, January/February,
  • Coffey, J., (2003), Recommendations for the Management of Asthma for the Child in School, Sponsored by a grant from the Centers for Disease Control and the Vermont Department of Health.
  • Heath, B., Coffey, J., Malone, P., and Courtney, J. (2000), Pediatric Office Emergencies and Emergency Preparedness in a Small Rural State, Pediatrics, 106(6) 1391-1396

Presentations

  • 2023 Sigma Region 15 Research Symposium. Boston College, Boston Mass. Developing Nurse Scientists of the Future: A Unique Clinical- Academic Partnership. Jean Coffey PhD, APRN, FAAN & Elizabeth B. McGrath DNP, APRN, Dr McGrath is from Dartmouth College.
A portrait of clinical professor Jean Coffey.
Contact Information
Emailjean.coffey@uconn.edu
File Curriculum Vitae
Office LocationSH 307
CampusStorrs