ANNOUNCEMENTS

NEW FACULTY

Megan England has joined the staff in the School of Nursing, working on the Clinical-Academic Network for Developing Leaders grant, or CANDL, with the goal of forming innovative academicpractice partnerships. She has worked as a nurse practitioner in the Pediatric Emergency Room at the Children’s Hospital at Erlanger as well as a nurse practitioner at Erlanger Primary Care on Lookout Mountain and in Ringgold, both in Georgia. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Kennesaw State University in Atlanta and her Master of Family Nurse Clinician at Southern Adventist University in Collegedale, Tenn.

Rachel Nall has been appointed as the Nurse Anesthesia Simulation Coordinator in the School of Nursing. She is a graduate of UTC, where she earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing and Master of Science in Nursing. Since earning her certification as a nurse anesthetist, she has worked with Anesthesia Consultants Exchange at Erlanger Hospital in Chattanooga. Her anesthesia focus has been in pediatrics, cardiothoracic, orthopedic trauma, general, neuroskeletal and gastroenterology. Having earned a Bachelor of Science in Journalism and Political Science from the University of Tennessee Knoxville, her first job was freelance writing for various health news outlets and pharmaceutical companies.

Laura Tyndall joins the faculty as the Assistant Program Coordinator for the Nurse Anesthesia Concentration. Dr. Tyndall earned her Bachelor of Science from the University of Alabama Huntsville, a certificate from the Erlanger School of Anesthesia and her Master of Science in Nursing and Doctorate of Nursing Practice from UTC. She has served as adjunct faculty for the program for many years. Prior to joining the School of Nursing faculty, she was employed by Anesthesiology Consultants Exchange, P.C. at Erlanger Hospital in Chattanooga, where her focus was in orthopedics. She has served as a preceptor for UTC students and recently was the clinical coordinator, a joint appointment with Erlanger and the UTC School of Nursing.

From the

RN-C ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR

As associate director of the School of Nursing, I have the pleasure to work with a faculty that is devoted to providing quality education as we prepare future nurses. Our students rise to the challenge and work diligently in order to transition into the profession. This hard work is evidenced by a 98% first time NCLEX pass rate for academic year 2019-2020. The success is due to the dedication and hard work from both the students and faculty who are developing students who are practice ready. Even though these students are in a rigorous program, our May 2020 exit interviews indicate that 100% of them would recommend the UTC School of Nursing.

As with the rest of the world, the pandemic caused some changes within the school. Our focus continues to be providing a quality education in a safe environment. Some of the changes made across the UTC campus are social distancing in the classroom, self-checks before coming to campus, wearing face masks while on campus and a cleaning regimen before and after each class.

Within the School of Nursing, more changes occurred in order to mitigate exposure. Each student was provided N95 masks, a face shield and goggles to complement the hospital PPE used in clinicals. In simulation experiences, the students wear face shields and masks and limit the time in close proximity to each other. During lab time, the students work in pairs instead of large groups. Specific practice times in the lab have been assigned to reduce exposure and allow for cleaning before and after equipment use.

The students have been very flexible to these changes. The faculty have been supportive and adaptable as well. If students are ill or quarantined, they may still attend their classes remotely, ensuring that no one falls behind. The faculty mentors have had extra meetings with their student mentee to provide support during these uncertain times.

As we plan for the future, our goal is to maintain a tradition of excellence. We will strive to provide the quality education UTC School of Nursing that preceded us for over 40 years. Yet we will be adaptable and responsive to the ever-changing environment. —Angel Collier, DNP, RN-C Associate Director

UTC OUTSTANDING OUTREACH AWARD

Susan Davidson was the recipient of the Outstanding Outreach Award for 2019-20. She was nominated for her work with the Chattanooga Community Kitchen’s Bloom Project, which provides feminine hygiene products to homeless and underserved women in our community. She also has volunteered with the HumanAnimal Bond in Tennessee program in which she and her Great Dane Henry work with veteran students at UTC, providing pet therapy.

SCHOOL OF NURSING OUTSTANDING FACULTY MEMBER 2019-20

Paula Jo Peters was chosen by her fellow faculty as the 2019-20 Outstanding Faculty in the School of Nursing. Peters has been a clinical assistant professor since 2018. She earned a Master of Science and a Ph.D. in Nursing, both focusing on nursing education. At UTC, her main focus is in the Bachelor of Science in Nursing program, where she focuses on courses in Nursing Fundamentals and Nursing Systems VI: Care of the Adult with Acute Health Deviations Clinical. She also teaches pathophysiology and pharmacology for second- and fifth-level students. Peters works to keep her courses unique by using iClicker technology to engage students. Congratulations to a deserving faculty member.

CHOSEN FOR STATE COVID-19 TASK FORCE

Kristi Wick, Vicki Gregg Chair in gerontology, has been appointed by Tennessee Commissioner of Health Lisa Piercey to serve on the Tennessee COVID-19 Long-Term Care Task Force. Wick was chosen because of her community involvement with the geriatric population as well as her efforts in getting COVID-19 testing for this group. The charge of the task force is to implement new policy solutions to address both immediate and future issues impacting long-term care facilities during the COVID-19 pandemic.

BLUE RIBBON RECIPIENT

Yasmine Key was chosen as the recipient of the Blue Ribbon Award, an honor given to one staff employee each month. Nominees are reviewed by a committee appointed by Chancellor Steve Angle. The Blue Ribbon Award winner exhibits outstanding service to others. For her work with the COVID-19 Campus Support Team, Key was the well-deserved winner for August.

College of Health and Human Performance

Outstanding Advisor

Bernadette DePrez was chosen from multiple nominations for the recognition. She is student-focused and took on leadership roles within the School of Nursing very early in her academic career. She makes improvements to her program on a regular basis. She does what she says she is going to do and is friendly and easy to work with.

Top 15

RANKING

The online site Nursing Process ranked the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga’s Bachelor of Science Nursing as No.12 in the Southeast for 2020. It has been ranked after closely evaluating 731 nursing programs across the region.

The rankings can be seen at: nursingprocess.org/best-bsnprograms-southeast/.

Nursing Process provides nursing students with education and career information to help make better choices. The site reaches out to more than 100,000 students every month across the country.

10-YEAR

ACCREDITATION EARNED

From bachelor to doctoral degrees, all programs of the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga School of Nursing earned a 10-year accreditation by the National Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).

The accreditation—which includes bachelor’s, master’s and doctorate's in nursing practice degree programs—was granted by the CCNE Board of Commissioners is effective through June 30, 2030.

The CCNE Board found that UTC Nursing met all four accreditation standards. Three involve program quality: assessing mission and governance; institutional commitment and resources; and curriculum and teaching-learning practices. The fourth standard, program effectiveness, involves assessment and achievement of program outcomes. The board also found no compliance concerns.

“The School of Nursing wishes to thank all of our students, faculty, staff and community partners who participated in this very important review of our programs,” said Chris Smith, director of the School of Nursing and UTC chief health affairs officer. “This accreditation ensures all current and future students that the UTC School of Nursing’s programs adhere to the highest standards delivering a quality program." In 2019, the School of Nursing was awarded the $2.2 million Clinical Academic Network for Developing Leaders (CANDL) grant. Given by Health Resources and Services Administration, part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the grant runs from July 2019 until June 2023, and has multiple goals: • To prepare family nurse practitioner students to be practice-ready upon graduation; • To form innovative academic-practice partnerships in the community; • To address social factors that impact health in underserved populations and the chronic health conditions that can affect those groups; • To develop and integrate the use of simulation into the program using patient actors.

By achieving these goals, nurse practitioner students will have both knowledge and hands-on experience so they are ready to immediately begin working in underserved communities whose residents may develop chronic medical conditions at a higher rate than other areas. Students will learn how to address those medical problems as well as promote health and wellness for their patients.

“The CANDL grant is allowing the nurse practitioner students to be wellprepared to integrate academic and clinical learning and to provide quality, evidence based, culturally-inclusive care for underserved populations,” says Amber Roache, coordinator of the nurse practitioner program in the School of Nursing at UTC.

LEADER OF DISTINCTION

Deborah Deal, BSN ’89, and Chief Nurse Executive of Parkridge Health System, was named Nurse Leader of Distinction at the Tennessee Hospital Association meeting. She earned her Master of Science in Health Services Administration from the University of St. Francis and is currently enrolled in the Doctorate of Nursing Practice: Nursing Administration Program at UTC. She anticipates graduating in 2021.

National Attention for Master’s Program

The Master of Science in Nursing program at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga is one of the Top 25 in the country in 2020, according to an education website.

Gradreports.com ranked UTC’s program at No. 25 on the list, which is based entry-level salaries for graduates and uses U.S. Department of Education data from more than 5 million graduates.

“We are honored to be identified as a top 25 Master of Science in Nursing program,” said Chris Smith, director of the School of Nursing. “Our Family and Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner concentrations consistently have a 100% pass rate on the certification exam, while the Nurse Anesthesia concentration is over 90 percent.

“The success of the students is directly attributed to a dedicated fulltime and adjunct faculty along with our clinical preceptor partners who work to make sure each student is practice-ready. These are the reasons for the program’s success.”

Recognizing Excellence

Mary B. Jackson Award recipient Hannah Frost and the Director of the School of Nursing Chris Smith

The BSN Class of December 2020 had its “socially distant” Honors and Recognition Ceremony on Nov. 18, 2020 in the University Center Auditorium. Due to COVID-19, we were unable to have guests at this very important ceremony, and masks were required for all in the auditorium. The event was livestreamed so family and friends could watch. At the ceremony, Hannah Frost was given the Mary B. Jackson Award, which was voted on by her classmates. Congratulations to Hannah and the entire BSN Class of 2020. Good luck on your NCLEX!

100% PASS RATE

Early in 2020, every University of Tennessee at Chattanooga nursing graduate who took the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) in 2020 passed it. That success also brought a 100% pass rate for UTC-graduate nurses in each of the last three testing periods.

“The NCLEX exam is a very challenging standardized test that every state regulatory board uses to determine if graduates are ready to become licensed and then work as practice-ready entry level nurses. This means nurses who have passed the exam have demonstrated knowledge that qualifies them to give direct patient care, take on leadership roles, provide education for patients and their families and, most importantly, serve as an advocate. As BSN-prepared graduates, our students provide holistic care for patients, their families and the communities in which they live,” said UTC School of Nursing Director Chris Smith.

“Both our faculty and our students are committed to achieving excellence in preparation for careers in the field of nursing, and a third consecutive 100% pass rate on the NCLEX is compelling and objective proof of that commitment. All are to be commended for their dedication,” she said.

Since 2007, 25 cohorts of UTC nursing graduates have taken the NCLEX and 12 of those groups have achieved a 100% first-time pass rate. The overall first-time pass rate for all UTC 25 cohorts is 97%.

VIRTUAL RECOGNITION

Following a virtual White Coat Ceremony for friends and family via Zoom, the Bachelor of Science Nursing class of Fall 2022 gathered with masks for a quick picture in October. Please note that social distancing was maintained at all other times. You can see the recording of the ceremony on YouTube. Search for UTC White Coat Ceremony 2020.