Derry, New Hampshire – Kimberly Christensen, RN-BC, a registered nurse at Parkland Medical Center, is the 2015 recipient of the Clint M. Jones New Hampshire Nursing Award presented by the Foundation for Healthy Communities.

Christensen, a graduate of Manchester Community College, received the tenth-annual award during a special Nurses Week celebration held Monday, May 11 at Parkland Medical Center in Derry, NH.

The Clint Jones Nursing Award was created in 2006 by the Foundation for Healthy Communities to honor the memory of the former director of the Foundation’s N.H. Nursing Workforce Partnership — Clint Jones. The award recognizes a registered nurse practicing in New Hampshire for at least one year but not more than six years, who exemplifies quality nursing care and demonstrates a commitment to a career in nursing.

Christensen first joined the staff at Parkland Medical Center in 2012 and currently serves on the hospital’s Surgical Vascular Unit.

“In fewer than three years at Parkland, Kim has made an incredible impact on this organization, her colleagues and most importantly, her patients and their families with her compassionate care and nursing excellence,” said Parkland Medical Center CEO Chris Accashian.

In nominating Christensen for the award, Julie Abbott, BSN, RN, director of adult and critical care services at Parkland Medical Center cited her inspiration and leadership for the hospital’s successful NICHE (Nurses Improving Care for Healthsystem Elders) designation in 2014 as well as her strong communication skills. “I learned that she had developed a special love for the geriatric population. She had a keen sense of this population’s age-specific care needs and recognized a need for improvement in care delivery. She became an expert in the care of the older adult in the hospital, educating herself through workshops and independent study on the topic of aging and hospitalization. She shared best practices with her colleagues by developing a monthly educational ‘quick hit’ of best practices on care of the older adult, and a series of ‘Did you know?’ statements that represent her commitment to excellence and compassion,” said Abbott.

“Kim is kind, compassionate and caring and she gives 100 percent to her patients and their families 100 percent of the time,” noted co-worker Kristine Cherbonneau, RN.

Only three years into her career, Christensen is on track to graduate with her Master’s in Nursing Leadership. She was the recipient of the HCA Excellence in Nursing Award after several nominations by her peers and hospital leadership.

Between November 2002 and February 2005, the N.H. Nursing Workforce Partnership – under the direction of Clint Jones – distributed millions of dollars in forgivable loans to hundreds of aspiring nurses in college and practicing nurses who received specialty training or advanced degrees.

“Clint worked with extraordinary enthusiasm and commitment at the Foundation for Healthy Communities and with several other New Hampshire organizations to encourage people to pursue a nursing career,” said Shawn LaFrance, the Foundation’s executive director. “This award in Clint’s name is one way to honor those who work so hard to care for patients across the state.”

As they have every year, Clint’s wife, Leslie, and son, Matt, attended the ceremony to present the award to Christensen.

About The Foundation for Healthy Communities
The Foundation for Healthy Communities is a nonprofit corporation that exists to improve health and health care in New Hampshire. The Foundation’s partnerships include hospitals, health plans, clinicians, home care agencies, public policy leaders, and other health and social service organizations. Learn more about the Foundation at www.healthyNH.com.