Roberta Christopher

About Roberta

Full Name:

Roberta Christopher

Business Name:

Caring for Joy

Languages Spoken:

English

Biography

Dr. Roberta Christopher has been a nurse for more than 23 years. Dr. Christopher completed her Doctor of Educational Leadership with a specialization in curriculum and instruction degree (EdD). Dr. Christopher is a board-certified nurse executive (NE-BC), board-certified healthcare technology specialist clinician/practitioner consultant (CHTS-CP), and certified appreciative inquiry facilitator (CAIF).

Roberta is a Watson Caring Science Post-Doctoral Senior Scholar, and completed her fellowship with the world-renowned theorist, Dr. Jean Watson, in July 2020. Her postdoctoral work focused on the development of Caring FidelityTM in computer-based simulated case studies and electronic health records. As part of her fellowship scholarly requirements, Dr. Christopher authored Chapter 17 of the second edition of the Creating a Caring Science Curriculum (edited by Dr. Marcia Hills and Dr. Jean Watson, in press) entitled “Simulation, narrative pedagogy, & Caring FidelityTM – The new reality.” Dr. Christopher also had a vignette story entitled “Breadcrumbs & Nine Lives,” published in Dr. Watson’s (2019) most recent book, Miracles.

Dr. Christopher will continue her work with the Watson Caring Science Institute (WCSI) and Dr. Watson as a Senior Scholar. As a WCSI Senior Scholar, Dr. Christopher will develop an appreciative line of inquiry to investigate Caring for Joy and to test Caring Fidelity in practice.

Roberta represents the Florida Nurses Association on the Nurses on Boards Coalition (NOBC) at the state and national levels. She also serves on the NOBC’s Impact Workgroup. Dr. Christopher served on the HIMSS TIGER Scholars Workgroup at the national level as a nursing informaticist. Dr. Christopher has been published in the Journal of Nursing Administration, Cochrane Nursing Care Field, Nursing Economics, Journal of Professional Nursing, International Journal Review, and Resuscitation, and has presented numerous times at the international level.

Dr. Christopher is a full-time Assistant Professor with the Keigwin School of Nursing in the Brooks Rehabilitation College of Healthcare Sciences at Jacksonville University. Faculty link: https://www.ju.edu/directory/roberta-christopher.php

Services

Consultations, Workshops, Online Courses, and Strategic Planning

I am frequently asked to consult to assist organizations with strategic planning using an appreciative inquiry approach. Such an approach is strength-based versus deficit-based. Following the initial consultation, services have varied from a one-day executive retreat to a several day, system-level retreat/conference. Some organizations have also requested assistance with online programs and continuing education via their learning management platforms.
Other key areas for consultations have focused on Employee Engagement and Joy in Work. These areas typically align with organizational strategic priorities. Caring Science serves as the foundational theoretical approach to caring for self and others. Key drivers, action planning, and performance outcomes have been concentrations for more in-depth consultations. Team-building, engaged learning activities are incorporated into the sessions.
Education in quality, safety, patient-centeredness, and informatics have also been educational and workshop topics requested.

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Transforming graduate nursing education during an era of social distancing: Tools from the field

The purpose of this article is to provide best practices for adaptation of graduate nursing education in response to the present challenge posed by the COVID-19 pandemic and expectations of social distancing. Although the essence of this process is to adapt educational content to an online format, it is essential for nursing schools to do so thoughtfully and deliberately, prioritizing the interests of the students.

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