As hospitals nationwide struggle with staffing shortages and nurse burnout, new data from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville’s College of Nursing points to a promising solution: stronger integration between education and clinical practice.
Through innovative partnerships with regional health care systems, the college is helping bridge the gap between graduation and real-world nursing.
“This is often cited as one of the most challenging transitions in health care,” said Victoria Niederhauser, dean of the college.
A recent evaluation of the college’s BSN Scholars program in partnership with UT Medical tracked new graduate nurses through their first six months in the workforce. The findings reveal a clear difference between traditional graduates and those trained through the partnership model.
While many new nurses experienced early declines in resilience and confidence, students in the Scholars program quickly adapted by closing those gaps within three months and maintaining stronger performance across key measures like self-efficacy, role confidence, and organizational commitment.
“These early months are where we see the greatest risk for burnout and turnover,” said Niederhauser. “What this data shows is that when education and practice are aligned, we can better prepare nurses not just to enter the workforce, but to succeed and stay.”
The impact extends across specialty areas as well. Through programs like the pediatric PRN partnership with Dolly Parton Children’s Hospital, students gain early exposure to high-demand fields and complete extensive clinical hours.
The program provides more than 300 hours of hands-on pediatric training per student and creates a direct pipeline into practice.
The PRN Scholars program offers a enhanced clinical experience compared to traditional pathways. Students in the program complete an additional 90 hours of pediatric clinical training during the summer, followed by priority placement in pediatric specialty rotations in the fall and preceptorship placements in the spring.
These efforts come at a critical time. Demand for nurses continues to rise, while burnout and workforce instability remain major concerns across the profession.
By strengthening academic-practice partnerships, the college is not only addressing workforce shortages, but building a more resilient, confident, and committed generation of nurses.
Contact:
Kara Clark Cardwell ([email protected], 865-974-9498)