Miana Rankin (’26) recently represented the University of Tennessee College of Nursing at the 2026 Future Talent Council Global Summit in Stockholm, Sweden. The summit brings together leaders from industry, higher education, and government to explore the future of work, workforce development, and education.
Rankin participated in the Future Talent Council’s inaugural six-month Global Student Fellowship Program, which prepares emerging global leaders through immersive learning, cross-cultural collaboration, executive mentorship, artificial intelligence focused learning experiences, and opportunities to contribute research that informs organizations navigating the future of talent and work.
Throughout the fellowship, Rankin collaborated with four students from the United States, the United Kingdom, and Sweden to examine how AI is reshaping entry-level careers. Each fellow focused on a different industry—including cybersecurity, sustainability, travel, and nursing—to better understand AI’s evolving role in the workforce.
Conducting this research while searching for her own first nursing position made the experience especially meaningful.
“I could not have picked a better time to research this topic,” Rankin said. “Much of my research was extremely relevant to my own experiences as I prepared to enter the workforce.”
AI was a central topic throughout the Stockholm summit, with nearly every speaker addressing its growing influence across industries. As Rankin compared findings from each sector, she realized nursing stood apart.
“Following the conference, I had this realization: nursing is quite literally the most human career,” she said. “AI is becoming more of a supplement to improve patient outcomes rather than taking our jobs.”
Her research reinforced that while AI can enhance efficiency and support clinical decision-making, it cannot replace the compassion, empathy, and human connection that define nursing. The summit echoed this perspective, emphasizing that AI is most effective when paired with people who demonstrate empathy, intellectual humility, and curiosity.
The experience also deepened Rankin’s appreciation for the College of Nursing’s emphasis on experiential learning. She believes the extensive clinical experiences nursing students complete before graduation prepare them for practice in ways that many other professions cannot replicate.
“Our clinical training is what makes nursing so special,” Rankin said. “New graduate registered nurses enter the field having been continuously assessed on their skills, feeling ready to practice safely while still eager to learn and strengthen their clinical judgment.”
Working alongside students from around the world also broadened her perspective on nursing’s role in shaping the future.
“Working alongside some of the most driven and intelligent students from around the world challenged me in the best possible way,” she said. “It pushed me to realize that nursing is inseparable from these global discussions because, at some point, we are all patients.”
Rankin said she left Stockholm with a renewed commitment to becoming a nurse leader who brings both clinical expertise and a global perspective to the profession.
“I feel empowered to lead with a perspective that is both clinical and global,” she said. “Nursing is rooted in bedside care, but it’s also about leadership, advocacy, and shaping how we care for one another across cultures.”
As the only nurse participating in the fellowship, Rankin was proud to represent the profession on the international stage and hopes to continue advocating for nursing through the Future Talent Council and future global initiatives.
“The summit was a life-changing experience and ignited a new passion for me to become the best nurse leader I can possibly be,” she said. “This fellowship has easily been one of the highlights of my college career, and I am incredibly grateful to UT for supporting me through this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”
Contacts:
Kara Clark Cardwell ([email protected], 865-974-9498)
Lauren Bryant ([email protected], 865-974-8250)