College of Nursing congratulates alumna Stephanie Estephan, MSN ‘16, RN, CHSE, who has been recognized as one of the 2024 Top Nurses in northeast Ohio, a testament to her dedication and impact within the healthcare community. Estephan, who recently celebrated 25 years at Akron Children’s Hospital, was one of 140 nominations Cleveland.com Plain Dealer received this year. A celebratory brunch was held on Thursday, September 12, 2024, to honor all the top nurse award recipients.
This recognition is not only a personal honor for Estephan but also a reflection of the broader contributions made by nurses daily.
“I’m so honored and humbled,” said Estephan. “There are so many nurses who do amazing things every day. For me to be chosen as one of these recipients was just amazing.”
Estephan's family — her mother, sister, and two of her three children, Aliya and Alex — were in attendance for the ceremony. Also celebrating this significant recognition with Estephan was her nominator, Marla, along with colleagues and leadership from Akron Children’s Hospital. The event was made even more special for Estephan when Alex FaceTimed her oldest child, Zach, who is away at college, during her award presentation. A surprise visit from her best friend and a personal sign that reminded Estephan of her late husband's presence, added to the significance of this experience.
“My family was so happy and proud of me.” said Estephan. “My daughter Aliya even shared the news with her high school art teacher. I was surprised when he, too, reached out to congratulate me on this award.”
Estephan credit’s her family’s support as a cornerstone of her success.
“I am so grateful for the support I have received throughout my nursing career from my late husband and my kids,” said Estephan. “They have been with me every step of the way.”
During the awards ceremony, Estephan was moved by the stories highlighting her fellow honorees.
“Listening to the stories of the other recipients reinspired me as to why I went into nursing and why I love this field,” said Estephan. “All the amazing things we can do and the impact we have on our patients and their families is just heartwarming.”
Growing up Estephan had a desire to help others. She recalled a pivotal conversation with her mother while trying to figure out her future career. Estephan explained she was torn between becoming a nurse or a teacher, and it was her mother who confidently declared she would excel in either profession.
After completing her BSN practicum in the Emergency Department (ED) at Akron Children’s Hospital, Estephan developed a passion for pediatric nursing, and went on to serve as an ED staff nurse for just shy of seven years. Seeking new challenges, she transitioned to an educator role in the ED for the next four years before moving to a PRN position with the centralized educator group. In this role, Estephan led the American Heart Association courses. She later became involved with the Akron Children’s simulation center when it opened in 2012 and served as a simulation educator. Recently, Estephan has transitioned to a new role as a quality initiative specialist at Akron Children’s Hospital, where she focuses on staff safety by analyzing incidents like slips, trips and falls to improve safety measures within the hospital.
To meet the educational requirements for her role within the educator group, Estephan pursued a master's degree in nursing education at , graduating in 2016. During her studies, Estephan connected with College of Nursing faculty member Elaine Thomas and completed a practicum that reignited her love for teaching. Following her graduation, Estephan began teaching clinicals and collaborating on enhancing the college’s simulation program for pediatric healthcare. She maintained this role through June 2024.
“My favorite aspect about nurse education has been sharing my 25 years of knowledge with the nursing students and my fellow colleagues,” said Estephan. “I love watching individuals learn and grow, and the best feeling is when someone comes back to tell me about a real patient who was like one of our simulations. I get so excited when they share that they knew how to respond because they felt more comfortable and more competent.”
As Estephan looks to the future, she hopes to use this award to inspire others to pursue nursing.