Christian Fair
Akron Children’s bedside nurses are some of the first faces patients see when they are admitted to the hospital. As such, they wear many hats from caregiver to counselor to educator. It takes a special person to be a pediatric nurse, and Akron Children’s is lucky to have many exceptional caregivers, like pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) nurse Christian Fair, who says he was attracted to a career in nursing because he wanted an opportunity to provide care to others.
Christian was first introduced to Akron Children’s as a nursing student.
“I had an observation day during nursing school in the PICU and fell in love with the workflow and patient population,” he shares.
That experience led him to join the PICU team after he graduated.
Christian says becoming an uncle has deepened his connection to his work.
“Working in the PICU, we do many things and take on many roles. I’m a nurse, advocate, educator, counselor, support to the families, caregiver and most importantly, a friend,” he explains.
At Akron Children’s, this multifaceted approach is vital in an environment where children and their families face significant challenges.
“Nurses are the eyes and ears of the patient when it comes to their improvement or deterioration. We have the skill set to detect, prevent and advocate for the patient since we spend the most time with them,” Christian says.
This vigilance and advocacy are crucial to providing high-quality care and ensuring positive outcomes.
“I really enjoy the moments where you see patients get better and overcome the many obstacles that their conditions or disease processes place upon them,” he says. “These triumphs are a testament to the strength of these children and the dedication of the medical team.”
Christian says the team in the PICU take their jobs seriously to ensure every child receives personalized and equitable care.
To manage the stresses of such a demanding role, Christian prioritizes self-care which helps him balance work, his personal life and maintain his well-being.
“Self-care for me looks like a nice long slumber to recover and then spending time with my friends and family,” he says.
Although he isn’t a parent, Christian’s connection to his work is deepened by his experience as an uncle.
“I have a nephew who was born when I first started working in the PICU. It can be challenging to see kids the same age dealing with the unthinkable, but it makes me cherish the time I have with him and the milestones he reaches,” Christian says. “I treat each and every patient as if they were my own family.”
Christian says one of the best things about Akron Children’s is that playing at work is promoted.
Christian’s favorite part of the job is seeing patients get better and overcome the many obstacles they faced as a result of their disease or condition.
“I’m an absolute goofball and would say I’m quite a child myself. I love working with children and being able to have fun while at work,” he says.
While his playful personality helps him bond with his patients, his team in the PICU take their jobs seriously to ensure every child receives personalized and equitable care.
“I have an awesome team that would take the shirt off their backs to ensure every staff member, family and patient is well taken care of,” Christian says. “We value not only equality but equity when it comes to treating each and every patient and their individual diagnoses.”
When reflecting on his career choice, Christian says he wanted a career where he wasn’t limited to expanding his knowledge and expertise.
“Most nurses spend 36 hours a week here. That’s a lot of time,” he says. “But nursing offers endless opportunities to expand out into other specialties, seek higher education and take on leadership roles. That’s why I chose it as a career.”
Interested in working at Akron Children’s? Visit careers.akronchildrens.org.
