For Karli Brtalik, the path to nursing began not in a classroom, but in a hospital NICU. When her younger sister, Madison, was born with a life-threatening medical emergency, it was a team of skilled and compassionate nurses at Novant Health Presbyterian Medical Center who helped save her life—and guided Brtalik’s family through their most difficult days.
“When she was born, she was perfectly healthy,” shared Brtalik. “My mom ended up staying overnight at the hospital because she had a c-section. In the middle of the night my sister began throwing up excessive amounts of blood.”
Doctors and nurses rushed in to help and started running countless tests on the newborn to see what was wrong.
“There happened to be a doctor in that was just coming in for a consult on another patient and he wanted to just check on Madison,” she added. “The hospital fortunately had a new scope that was small enough for newborns. Dr. Attorri was able to scope her stomach and found that she had a main artery in her stomach that had ruptured.”
Madison was rushed into an emergency surgery that saved her life.
That experience left a lasting impression on Brtalik, who later grew up visiting Novant, volunteering and speaking at hospital events, and learning firsthand the difference nurses can make.
“The nurses that were with them during this time, are what got them through it,” said Brtalik. “They gave us hope and taught my parents how to care for my sister.”
That early exposure turned into a lifelong calling. When it came time to decide on a career path, Brtalik knew what she wanted to do.
The University of Tennessee (UT) was on Brtalik’s list of schools to tour when her senior year rolled around. Her entire family made the drive from Charlotte to visit campus in 2020. She immediately fell in love with UT, and knew she wanted to be a Vol Nurse.
“I loved that there was a well-respected, direct admit nursing program, and I immediately knew that this is where I wanted to go,” she added. “I have three younger sisters who toured with me. I was the first in my family to come to UT, but two of my younger sisters, including Madison, followed in my footsteps.”
During her time at UT, she has been actively involved as a member of the Student Nurses Association, and Phi Mu. However, it was the Precious Prints Project that made the biggest impact on Brtalik.
“I decided to interview for the Precious Print Project as a sophomore,” she added.
Brtalik was one of five students selected to join the program, out of numerous applicants.
The Precious Prints Project comforts grieving families with a sterling silver pendant bearing the fingerprint of their child. The project was developed at UT in partnership with Precious Metal Prints, a local business.
First launched at East Tennessee Children’s Hospital in January 2012, it has expanded to include all major health systems in Knox County and several hospitals across the US, with fundraising and project management handled by the Student Nurses Association.
The Precious Prints Project representatives attend Infant Loss Awareness Events, train hospitals on using the kits, and plan an annual fundraiser that supports the cause.
“Being able to go to events where recipients were able to come and tell us their story and the impact it our prints had was so rewarding,” shared Brtalik. “I am so grateful I interviewed for this project and have had the opportunity to be involved.”
Through her service and experience, Brtalik has worked to become the kind of nurse who leads with both knowledge and heart.
When asked what word best describes her time at UT, Brtalik said confidence.
“Choosing to attend a large university in Tennessee was out of my comfort zone,” she shared. “I was reserved, but UT has given me the confidence to interact meaningfully with patients and hear their stories. Communication was the most valuable skill that I developed during my time here, and I am excited to see how my skills will expand into the NICU setting.”
Now, as she prepares to graduate, her story has come full circle: she has accepted a position in the very same NICU at Novant Charlotte that once cared for her sister.
“This has been my dream since I was a teenager,” Brtalik added. “The fact that I am going to have the opportunity to impact families at Novant the way mine was impacted is truly a gift.”
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CONTACT:
Kara Clark (865-974-9498, [email protected])