This year was a momentous year in the College of Nursing, with a new building on the horizon, record-breaking fundraising totals and enrollment numbers, and the start of an anniversary celebration. Here is a wrap-up of our biggest moments:

Building Renovation and Expansion

For some time, the nation’s demand for registered and advanced practice nurses has been growing at a fast pace. In Tennessee, a workforce projection study estimates a 40 percent increase in the need for registered nurses. To meet this growing demand, the college enacted a five-year plan to increase its annual enrollment by about 55 percent, from 800 students in 2018 to 1,250 in 2023, grow its faculty and staff, and more than double the size of the current building from 42,000 to 100,000 square feet.

A major step in carrying out the plan came in October 2019, when the college received the largest gift in its history—$7.5 million—from alumna Sara Croley (’00) and her husband, Ross.

On April 29 of this year, the Tennessee General Assembly passed the FY21-22 budget. The University of Tennessee, College of Nursing building renovation and expansion was one of the capital projects funded under this budget.

On October 22 the UT Board of Trustees approved the naming of the new University of Tennessee, Knoxville, College of Nursing building, set to be constructed on Volunteer Boulevard. The new space will be named The Croley Nursing Building.

Construction is scheduled to begin next summer, and the building’s completion is targeted for 2025.

Vaccine Distribution:

Beginning in the fall of 2020 students from the College of Nursing stepped up to help fight the spread of COVID-19 by volunteering at testing sites, helping with campus saliva testing, and providing health screenings at campus events.

Community members noticed the great work nursing students were doing, and once the vaccine rollout began in January of 2021 the college was contacted to help with distribution.

Under the leadership of College of Nursing faculty members, student nurses began helping at vaccination clinics throughout the city. Covenant Health, the Knox County Health Department, Cherokee Health Systems, UT Medical Center, and Faith Leaders Church Initiative were among the list of partners.

The experience is beneficial to both the community and to nursing students. “The college’s mission is leading care, creating partnerships, and improving health,” said Victoria Niederhauser, dean of the College of Nursing. “Not only are we advancing the health of our community through vaccines, we are providing the students with an opportunity to practice nursing and public health skills in a community setting.”

To date, nursing students have given out approximately 15,900 vaccines.

By the Numbers:

The College of Nursing is a nationally recognized leader in the education of highly skilled visionary nurses.

The college saw its largest-ever enrollment, with 1,047 students in the fall of 2021. Enrollment has steadily increased over the years, with 803 students enrolled in 2016. This enrollment growth is in line with the college’s five-year plan to increase its annual enrollment.

“Students are attracted to the nursing profession because it offers multiple specialty areas, bountiful career options, and the opportunity to make an impact in the lives of others,” said Jada Russel, director of student services. “The interest in our freshman admissions program has steadily grown over the past few years. However, the interest has grown exponentially with the pandemic. I’m excited to take part in this important mission by supporting students to become the best and brightest future nurse leaders.”

To reduce financial barriers for these students, the college has also increased need-based scholarships over the years. This year the college was able to award $250,000 in scholarships to deserving nursing students.

“These highly qualified students work diligently to become the best graduate-ready nurses while in our programs,” says Niederhauser. “By providing scholarships to these students, it eases the financial burden so they can focus on their studies.”

Nationally Ranked

The college is nationally ranked and internationally recognized for its diverse and comprehensive educational programs, highlighted by innovative simulation, interprofessional collaboration, research, and community outreach.

The College of Nursing’s doctoral program in nursing practice ranked 38th among public universities this year.

“At the College of Nursing we work to produce Doctor of Nursing Practice students that will influence health care outcomes for individuals and patient populations by using evidence-based practice, evaluating, and implementing health policy, developing new and innovative clinical systems, and becoming leaders in nursing,” said Niederhauser. “This ranking is a direct reflection of our amazing nursing students. It is also a tribute to the commitment of our faculty and staff, who work tirelessly to support excellence in nursing education.”

For the first time, U.S. News published an undergraduate nursing degree ranking for programs that offer the Bachelor of Science in Nursing, or BSN.

In September it was announced that the college was ranked 42nd among all public universities and 58th nationally, according to the 2021 U.S. News and World Report undergraduate rankings.

“The COVID-19 pandemic illuminated a spotlight on nurses who have demonstrated their dedication to society by providing safe, effective, and evidence-based care to patients all over the world,” said Sadie Hutson, executive associate dean of the college. “I am so proud of our exceptional faculty and staff in their provision of a high-quality baccalaureate education that is addressing the demand of the nursing shortage in our country. Our exceptional graduates are making a significant impact on health in the lives of Tennesseans and beyond.”

$130,000 Raised at Annual NightinGala

The thirteenth annual NightinGala was held on Friday, November 12, at Cherokee Country Club. This fun-filled evening featured silent and live auctions, a plated dinner, awards ceremony, and an after-party with entertainment by the Coveralls.

The Dr. Sylvia E. Hart Distinguished Alumni Award was presented to Mary Lynn Brown, a faculty member of the college who exemplifies excellence through outstanding achievement, creativity, and service to the profession. The Volunteer Nursing Champion award was presented to Linda Vaughn for her support of the College of Nursing, the nursing profession, and the community.

The success of this event is credited largely to sponsors, who lend their names and financial support to the NightinGala. A special thank you to our presenting sponsors: Ayers Saint Gross, Barber McMurray, HOK, McCarty Hopsale McCarty and our corporate sponsors: the University of Tennessee Medical Center, East Tennessee Children’s Hospital, Partners Development, SLAM Collaborative, Johnson Architecture, and the Phillips family.

The event broke records and raised over $130,000, with all proceeds supporting the college’s efforts to provide nursing students with scholarships, state-of-the-art technology, and equipment.

Research and Scholarship

The college has reported an impressive research year for the fiscal year that ended on June 30, 2021, with $ 2,914,648 in expenditures. This amount includes money from grants, contracts, and other external resources spent conducting research.

“Our fiscal year funding was at an all-time high at nearly 3 million dollars,” said Tami Wyatt, associate dean of research. “This truly indicates the excellent research and talented scientists in our college, and we are not slowing down. We have exciting new and growing projects already underway for fiscal year 2022.”

This year’s research funding includes several prominent projects:

• Joel Anderson, associate professor at the college, received a three-year grant from the National Institute on Aging that focuses on increasing engagement and inclusion of LGBTQIA+ individuals in clinical aging-related research using a community based participatory approach that includes and data collection from in-person activities, online data collection, and the implementation of a national research registry.

 

“LGBTQIA+ individuals experience greater physical, socioeconomic, and clinical health disparities than their heterosexual and cisgender peers and are widely underrepresented in aging research,” said Anderson. “Of the few research projects conducted among LGBTQIA+ adults living with dementia or LGBTQIA+ caregivers of people with dementia, there has never been a nationally collaborative, concerted effort either to enroll these individuals in aging-related research or collect data related to their experiences with dementia and caregiving.”

 

• The American Association of Colleges of Nursing selected the University of Tennessee, College of Nursing’s Transforming RN Roles in Community-based Integrated Primary Care (TRIP) grant to receive its 2021 AACN Exemplary Academic-Practice Partnership Award.

This award is given to academic-practice partnerships that demonstrate positive, measurable outcomes and an innovative, sustained relationship.

The TRIP program, a four-year $2.6 million grant from the U.S. Health Resources Services Administration was formed in 2018 between the College of Nursing and Cherokee Health Systems to train Bachelor of Science in Nursing students to work in primary care with rural and underserved populations and to advance leadership skills for registered nurses to work at the full scope of their license.

• Consolidated Nuclear Security LLC, the management and operations contractor for the Y-12 National Security Complex, awarded the College of Nursing and Tickle College of Engineering a research subcontract of up to three years and $1.5 million. The initiative aims to develop an integrated approach for applying advanced engineering tools and techniques.

“We are bringing together a unique depth and breadth of capabilities from across campus to support this particular effort, drawing on our experience of working in high-consequence operations like health care or nuclear energy,” said Tom Berg, assistant professor of nursing. “This integration of advanced systems engineering capabilities into the College of Nursing provides us with new and unique resources such as computer simulation and modeling, data visualization, virtual and mixed reality, predictive analytics, and decision theory. These skills and resources help expand our leadership in nursing research by complementing existing research areas and moving into areas new to the college.”

50th Anniversary

The College of Nursing marked the beginning of a yearlong celebration of its 50^th anniversary at the annual NightinGala in November 2021.

The college opened its doors in 1971 after the state legislature determined a need for a nursing college in East Tennessee. At the time, there was only one public nursing college in all of Tennessee—and it was on the other side of the state.

“We are so proud of the thousands of alumni that have provided excellent care to patients and families over the last half-decade,” said Niederhauser. “Their legacy is created by the amazing faculty and staff who tirelessly give their all for their students.”

The college will end its 50^th Anniversary with a celebratory NightinGala on November 12, 2022. This gala will be an opportunity to honor 50 outstanding College of Nursing alumni. The awardees will be recognized for their excellence in nursing and health care, leadership in advancing the nursing profession, and innovation in professional nursing.

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CONTACT:

Kara Clark Cardwell (kmclark2@utk.edu, 865-974-9498)

 

Disclaimer: Research reported in this publication was supported by the National Institute on Aging of the National Institutes of Health under Award Number 1R24AG066599-01A1. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health.

The American Association of Colleges of Nursing selected the University of Tennessee, College of Nursing’s Transforming RN Roles in Community-based Integrated Primary Care (TRIP) grant to receive its 2021 AACN Exemplary Academic-Practice Partnership Award.

This award is given to academic-practice partnerships that demonstrate positive, measurable outcomes and an innovative, sustained relationship.

The TRIP program, a four-year $2.6 million grant from the U.S. Health Resources Services Administration was formed in 2018 between the College of Nursing and Cherokee Health Systems to train Bachelor of Science in Nursing students to work in primary care with rural and underserved populations and to advance leadership skills for registered nurses to work at the full scope of their license.

“The partnership has truly been a win-win for all of us,” said Sandra Mixer, TRIP project director and associate professor at the college. “Cherokee registered nurses and UT nursing faculty have formed collaborative relationships that transformed nursing education and healthcare in our community.”

“The opportunity to give future nurse leaders an immersion experiene in primary care is an investment for the future,” said Parinda Khatri, Cherokee’s chief clinical officer.

In its final year, the TRIP program has trained over 50 BSN students and 22 Cherokee Health Systems registered nurses and nursing faculty and staff. An additional 22 registered nurses and faculty will be trained in spring 2022.

“This academic clinical partnership by far has been the most rewarding venture in my numerous years of work in nursing,” said Jenn Craig, Cherokee’s director of nursing.

In addition, TRIP program principles of community-based integrated primary care have been infused into the traditional BSN curriculum.

“It has been most rewarding to see education for BSNs in the primary care setting particularly during the COVID pandemic when primary care was so critical,” said Febe Wallace, Cherokee’s medical director. “TRIP students have had so many great opportunities to prepare for real-world clinical settings.”

Victoria Niederhauser, dean of the college, Lizanne Elliott, clinical associate professor and TRIP faculty liaison, and Susan Rowlett, nurse manager of the Seymour Clinic-Cherokee Health Systems and TRIP clinical coach, accepted the award on Monday, November 1 during the 2021 AACN Academic Nursing Leadership Conference in Washington, D.C.

“This award is a testament to the strong and growing partnerships we have within our community,” said Victoria Niederhauser, dean of the college. “Our students gain important experience working as a member of an interdisciplinary health care team to improve the health of people in Tennessee.”

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CONTACT:

 

Kara Clark Cardwell (kmclark2@utk.edu, 865-974-9498)

The new University of Tennessee, Knoxville, College of Nursing building, set to be constructed on Volunteer Boulevard, will be named after Sara Croley (’00) and her husband, Ross. The naming comes after the college received its largest gift to date—$7.5 million—from the couple in October 2019. The UT Board of Trustees approved the naming of the building after the Croleys during its meeting ending October 22.

“Ross and I are very fortunate to be able to provide the donation that sparked this campaign and this project,” said Croley. “We are passionate about supporting nurses and nursing education, especially in the aftermath of a global pandemic.”

Of the gift, $5.5 million was allocated to support the college’s building project and $2 million established the Sara Rosenbalm Croley Endowed Dean’s Chair. On April 29, when the Tennessee General Assembly passed the state’s FY21–22 budget, the remaining expense for the college’s building renovation and expansion was funded as a capital project.

The Croleys will serve as building campaign chairs.

“We are so thankful for the support of Sara and Ross Croley,” said Victoria Niederhauser, dean of the College of Nursing and the first person to hold the Sara Rosenbalm Croley Endowed Dean’s Chair. “They truly understand the need for more nurses in our community and have stepped up to make a difference in these students’ educational journey with their generous donation.”

UT’s nursing programs are among the top in the country, with undergraduates having one of the highest first-time pass rates—98.5 percent—on the 2020 National Council Licensure Exam (NCLEX-RN). The Doctor of Nursing Practice program was ranked 38th among public universities in the 2022 US News and World Report graduate school rankings.

Enhanced and expanded facilities will provide students and faculty with an experiential learning environment that will help to support the growing college. Construction is scheduled to begin next summer, and the building’s completion is targeted for 2025.

“Sara and Ross’s investment into growing the nursing program shows their vision to address the need for nurses in this country, their belief in our students, and their compassion for others,” said Chip Bryant, vice chancellor for advancement. “The Croleys are true Volunteers, and we’re extraordinarily grateful for their gift and the many positive impacts it will have.”

For some time, the nation’s demand for registered and advanced practice nurses has been growing at a fast pace, leading to a shortage that was exacerbated by COVID-19. To meet the growing demand for nurses, the college enacted a five-year plan to increase its annual enrollment by about 55 percent, from 800 students in 2018 to 1,250 in 2023. This growth brings about the need for additional faculty and staff as well as larger facilities.

“We have been operating in a 43-year-old building, which has presented many challenges,” said Niederhauser. “Students don’t have an interactive learning space, and faculty are spread across campus. This new building will open the door for opportunity and help us to reach our vision of leading care, creating partnerships, and improving health.”

Learn more information on the building project at nursing.utk.edu/buildingcampaign.

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CONTACT:

Kara Clark (865-974-9498, kmclark2@utk.edu)

 

Any views represented in this rendering are preliminary and may be changed or altered in the final design stages.

By Whitney Heins

This year, the College of Nursing turns 50. It would be nearly impossible to quantify the profound impact it has had on the community, state, and world.

And the future is bright for the next half-century, with a new building on the horizon opening opportunities to educate more high-caliber nurses and conduct more transformational research.

A look back

Since the very beginning, there has been a demand for Tennessee nurses, and the College of Nursing has done its best to fulfill that demand.

The college opened its doors in 1971 after the state legislature determined a need for a nursing college in East Tennessee. At the time, there was only one public nursing college in all of Tennessee—and it was on the other side of the state.

The fledgling college recruited the esteemed Sylvia Hart, associate dean for undergraduate nursing programs at the State University of New York in Buffalo (now the University at Buffalo) to be at the helm. During her 21 years as dean, Hart established a strong foundation for the college, launching its bachelor’s, master’s, and PhD programs.

“She was the kind of transformational leader who commanded such respect from faculty that we always willingly followed along during the addition of those new programs,” said Sandra Thomas, who helped create the PhD program and serves as chair.

The program, instituted in 1989, aimed to fill the need for nurses and conduct life-changing nursing science research. From its inception, nursing doctoral students crossed disciplinary lines to collaborate with colleagues across campus. Research areas have ranged from the effects of human touch on preterm infants to the effects of fatigue on cancer patients to helping Iraqi refugees resettle in America.

When Joan Creasia became dean in 1995, a shortage of skilled nurses was looming. In response, she obtained additional funding to expand or add several programs, including the Doctor of Nursing Practice and RN to BSN programs.

“There was an increased need for BSN and advanced practice nurses, as patients were in the hospital for shorter periods of time and needed follow-up care after discharge. But home health nurses, nurse practitioners, and primary care nurses were in short supply,” Creasia explained.

The college worked hard to grow and add as many nurses to the workforce as it could with the space and faculty it had.

A current look

When Victoria Niederhauser became dean in 2011, she continued Creasia’s efforts to fill the nursing gap by growing student enrollment from 420 undergraduates and 129 graduate students in 2011 to the current level of 760 undergraduates and 183 graduate students. The number of faculty members teaching these students also grew, from 53 in 2011 to 113 today.

Research impact

Niederhauser’s focus on experiential simulation learning, including the cutting-edge Health Innovation and Technology (HITS) Lab and nursing science research, has enriched the work of the college’s students and faculty.

In the HITS lab, educators provide students with real-life learning opportunities while researchers engage in health care innovation to improve the quality of life.

“We are providing the workforce for the future, but we are also exploring issues that improve health and health care through nursing science and discovery,” explained Niederhauser.

For example, research into neonates is uncovering how certain exposures in the NICU can lead to hearing loss. Other research is revealing how to delay the onset of dementia and protect the mental health of family caregivers. New research collaborations will investigate the role of the microbiome in the development of neurodegenerative diseases such as ALS, Alzheimer’s disease, and Parkinson’s disease as well as mental health and the neurodevelopment of children.

The college’s administration, faculty, and staff have worked to create a supportive environment for research and scholarly activity, attracting $2.9 million in extramural funding during the fiscal year 2021. The college also now has a record eight faculty members who are American Academy of Nursing fellows—the highest honor in the nursing profession—and seven others with national academy appointments. The DNP program’s US News & World Report ranking among public institutions has jumped from the 50s to 38th over the past several years.

Student impact

The top-caliber faculty means the college is producing top-caliber students. Graduates have a 98.5 percent pass rate on the National Council Licensure Exam, the highest in a decade and far surpassing the state and national average. What’s more, they are highly sought after for nursing jobs, in large part due to the real-world experience they obtain in the program.

For example, a curriculum change incorporated an academic service-learning component in which juniors and seniors participate in 30 hours of service–learning each semester with one of more than 40 community partner agencies. Last year alone, undergraduate nursing students conducted about 17,000 hours of service in the community. Their work culminates with a senior research project that improves the quality of service for the agency.

“We got our students involved in this work after we heard from acute hospital clinical partners that they needed new graduated nurses with stronger soft skills such as communication, innovation, and leadership,” said Shelia Swift, assistant dean for undergraduate programs. “So now the students have the opportunity to gain those skills while helping improve the services the community agencies provide.”

Local to global impact

In 2015, the college opened its Center for Nursing Practice to address the lack of access to nursing care throughout the state. The self-funded center supports the growth of nurse-managed clinics, community outreach, collaboration, and education of health care professionals and nurse leaders in the state and beyond.

During the pandemic, the skills and compassion of students and faculty were profoundly felt—and needed.

“We didn’t hesitate to help,” said Niederhauser. “We said yes when asked. We volunteered when we knew a community partner had a need.”

Nursing students and faculty gave more than 26,000 vaccines this year on campus and in various health care and community settings. They performed COVID-19 saliva testing and contact tracing for students on campus, screened employees on football Saturdays, and worked additional hours in hospitals needing coverage.

The college’s commitment to service stretches around the globe. Students have participated in service-learning projects in rural communities in Costa Rica and Belize. Faculty have traveled to Kenya to conduct the Helping Babies Breathe program, training 60 health care workers and midwives in an underresourced area to do infant resuscitation. The program has already saved many lives, and plans are in the works for students to join in the future.

A look forward

While the college has had an enormous impact over the past 50 years, its work is limited by the size of its physical space. The current 42,000-square-foot nursing building was adequate in 1971, but with the tremendous growth of faculty, staff, and students it’s now dramatically undersized.

“Faculty share office space, students have no place to study or interact, and as the college has grown to fill the nursing gap it has been splintered into other buildings across campus,” said Niederhauser. The state has recognized the need for a larger facility for the college since the 1990s, but numerous roadblocks—most recently, the pandemic—have delayed a solution.

A new home

Beginning next year, Niederhauser will finally be able to oversee the realization of a new nursing building that will allow the college to educate more nurses, cultivate more collaboration, and conduct more life-changing research.

The new facility is made possible by Sara Croley (BSN ’00) and her husband, Ross. The couple committed $7.5 million to the college, the largest gift in its history, for the facility and the Sara Rosenbalm Croley Endowed Dean’s Chair.

“Having worked as a nurse for many years, I have cared for people during some of their most difficult moments. Nurses play such an important role in people’s lives,” said Croley. “Ross and I are investing in the future of nursing in Tennessee. We hope this gift opens a door of opportunity for many more amazing nurses to enter the workforce.”

Construction on the renovated and expanded building, projected to be approximately 100,000 square feet, is slated to begin in 2022 and be completed in three years. The new facility will house enhanced simulation and research labs, including the HITS lab, along with dynamic classroom environments and student collaboration areas. The $60 million anticipated costs of the project will be funded through a combination of donations and state funds.

“This investment is one that is certain to pay off for Tennessee, with more than half of our graduates staying in the state to work after graduation,” said Niederhauser. She said she has prioritized a new building since she arrived at UT, and she’s excited about the opportunities for research and community.

“What I want is to have a sense of what it means to be a Volunteer nurse—to stand in the shadows and give light to others. What I want is when you walk in the doors, you know you are at Tennessee nursing,” she said.

The College of Nursing has much to look forward to as it celebrates its 50th anniversary over the next year, ending with a celebratory gala in 2022. At long last it will have the resources to make the positive impact it is capable of—in the community, in Tennessee, and beyond.

The best is yet to come.

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CONTACT:

Kara Clark Cardwell (kmclark2@utk.edu, 865-974-9498)

Final numbers are in, and the Sprint for the Prints exceeded its goal and broke a record for most race participants and dollars raised. The race saw 530 registrations representing 24 states and resulted in proceeds of $20,550.

The funds raised from this event will directly benefit the Precious Prints Project, which provides free fingerprint charms to families who have lost a child. The project aims at helping families channel their grief in a healthy, compassionate way.

With the rise of COVID-19 cases and the increased infectious capability of the delta variant officials made the decision to transition the hybrid event to a fully virtual event. The virtual format allowed participants to complete the 3.1 miles any time from September 18 to September 25.

“The endless passion and commitment of our students fuel this project and that energy is contagious,” said Lynne Miller, director of the Precious Prints Project. “To know that all over the country people were participating to provide support to families who experienced such heartbreaking loss is yet another reason to be proud to be a part of Vol Nursing.”

Since the beginning of the project, through the Student Nurses Association funding efforts and project management, more than 1,300 families have received a tangible linking remembrance of a child’s life that ended all too soon.

“We are so proud of the students and staff that helped to make this the most successful race to date,” said Victoria Niederhauser, dean of the college. “The Precious Prints Project is making a significant impact on the families in our community and beyond. It is an honor to witness the growth of this project, and watch the students fuel the efforts behind the scenes.”

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CONTACT:

Kara Clark Cardwell (kmclark2@utk.edu, 865-974-9498)

For the first time, U.S. News has published an undergraduate nursing degree ranking for programs that offer the Bachelor of Science in Nursing, or BSN.

The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, College of Nursing ranked 42nd among all public universities and 58th nationally, according to the 2021 U.S. News and World Report undergraduate rankings released today.

“UT’s College of Nursing is excited to be ranked in the top ten percent of Bachelor of Science in Nursing programs,” said Victoria Niederhauser, the Sara Rosenbaum Croley Endowed Dean’s Chair for the College of Nursing. “This ranking is a direct reflection of the talented faculty members in our college who are committed to excellence in education through clinical experiences in hospitals and community settings, simulated learning in our health innovation lab, and interactive classroom experiences.”

To be included in the rankings, nursing schools needed to be accredited at the bachelor’s level by either the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education or the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing. The college also needed to be a regionally accredited institution that awarded at least 35 BSN degrees, according to 2018-2019 data from the U.S. Department of Education’s Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System.

U.S. News surveyed deans and senior faculty members at each 694 undergraduate BSN degree-granting nursing programs that met the above criteria. All 694 will be ranked.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has illuminated a spotlight on nurses who have demonstrated their dedication to society by providing safe, effective, and evidence-based care to patients all over the world,” said Sadie Hutson, executive associate dean of the college. “I am so proud of our exceptional faculty and staff in their provision of a high-quality baccalaureate education that is addressing the demand of the nursing shortage in our country. Our exceptional graduates are making a significant impact on health in the lives of Tennesseans and beyond.”

The University of Tennessee, College of Nursing is nationally ranked and internationally recognized for its diverse and comprehensive educational programs, highlighted by innovative simulation, interprofessional collaboration, research, and community outreach.

“It is an honor to work directly with an exceptional undergraduate team who are committed to preparing our students as future nurse professionals and healthcare leaders,” said Shelia Swift, assistant dean of undergraduate programs. “Our faculty and staff are totally committed to meeting the college’s mission to lead care, create partnerships, and improve health, and our incredible graduates make a positive difference for patients in a variety of healthcare settings.”

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CONTACT:

Kara Clark (865-974-9498, kmclark2@utk.edu)

 

Since 2012, the Precious Prints Project at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville’s College of Nursing has been offering free fingerprint charms to families that have lost a child. The project is a collaboration with a local jewelry company, Precious Metal Prints.

Amy Neil, a nurse who earned both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees at UT, vividly remembers talking with a woman about the recent loss of a child and noticing the small silver fingerprint charm dangling around the woman’s neck.

“She had a pretty amazing story,” said Neil. “Her child passed away in a hospital out of state. She heard about the Precious Prints Project and obtained a charm with her late child’s fingerprint.”

Neil, who works as an oncology nurse practitioner at University Cancer Specialists, unfortunately, knows the pain of losing a child all too well.

The Unexplainable

Neil and her husband, DJ, had struggled with infertility for years.

“After seven years of trying the doctors still could not explain our fertility issues,” said Neil.

In a final effort, the couple went through a round of in vitro fertilization and found out they were expecting in November 2019.

“I had a good pregnancy,” said Neil. “I never felt ill, no nausea, nothing. My pregnancy was perfect. All my labs, ultrasounds and fetal heart rate were testing good. We had a healthy baby!”

At 27 weeks, Neil experienced complications and was rushed to Park West Medical Center. She was diagnosed with preterm premature rupture of membranes and transferred to Fort Sanders Regional Medical Center, where she was admitted and monitored for several weeks.

Two weeks later, Neil went into labor. Luke Hudson Neil was born on May 9, 2020, weighing less than three pounds. He was immediately rushed to the neonatal intensive care unit at East Tennessee Children’s Hospital.

“Luke was in distress,” said Neil. “He suffered from deceleration of heart rate along with other health conditions. None of this was ever expected.”

Luke passed away that same day while surrounded by his loving family.

A nurse offered Neil a Precious Print. She now has a small tangible memory of her son, a silver pendant necklace with his fingerprint, provided by the Precious Prints Project.

Honoring Luke

Jennifer Hong, Neil’s sister, and another UT alumna knew she needed to help after Luke’s passing.

“As I was holding Luke, I glanced down at him and made a promise,” said Hong. “I promised that everyone would know who he was.”

Hong approached her sister and brother-in-law with the idea of creating a foundation in Luke’s honor. They were humbled and honored by the gesture.

“One of the first decisions we needed to make was what will the foundation help support,” said Neil. “My response was instant—UT’s Precious Prints Project.”

In February, the Luke Hudson Neil Foundation was officially created. Hong now serves as its president.

“The foundation is here to celebrate Luke’s life and all the babies who have left this world way too soon,” said Hong.

The foundation will serve as a base to support and grow the Precious Prints Project, with all the proceeds it raises going directly to the project.

“We want to help the program spread where it can,” said Hong.

To date, the Precious Prints Project has provided nearly 1,300 prints to families who have lost a child. Neil and her family want to honor Luke’s memory by seeing that number increase.

“My intent in telling Luke’s story is to honor him, acknowledge his life and death,” said Neil. “Luke deserves for his name to be spoken and he deserves to make his little mark on this big world.”

The Precious Prints Project will host the annual Sprint for the Prints virtually September 18 to 25. Proceeds from the 5K will help provide a necklace pendant to families like the Neils who have lost a child. Learn more about the race or register here.

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CONTACT:

Kara Clark (865-974-9498, kmclark2@utk.edu)

For the second year in a row, the Sprint for the Prints will be virtual due to COVID-19.

This event will support the Precious Prints Project, which provides free fingerprint charms to families who have lost a child. The project aims at helping families channel their grief in a healthy, compassionate way.

Hundreds of people have participated in this race over the last nine years, and the 2021 race is expected to draw large crowds again.

With the rise of COVID-19 cases and the increased infectious capability of the delta variant officials have made the decision to transition the hybrid event to a fully virtual event.

“As nurses and educators, we must lead by example to reduce the spread and protect health in our community and beyond,” said Victoria Niederhauser, dean of the College of Nursing. “While we are disappointed that we are unable to host our annual race in-person, we are excited to bring our network of supporters together in a virtual format.”

As the event is going virtual for the second year in a row it allows people from across the world to participate and support the Precious Prints Project.

“Compassion is the filter through which nurses deliver health care,” said Lynne Miller, director of the Precious Prints Project. “How can we not do the same now for our families and community by shielding their safety and providing for their health? Our goal for this event will continue to be to honor the families whose lives were devastated by the loss of a child and to ensure funding for the gift of a fingerprinted charm for those who come in the future.”

The virtual format allows participants to complete the 3.1 miles any time from September 18 to September 25 anywhere they feel safe. Registration for the run is open online now!

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CONTACT:

 

Kara Clark (kmclark2@utk.edu, 865-974-9498)

For the ninth year in a row, UT’s Student Nurses’ Association will host its annual Sprint for the Prints 5K Run and Walk.

This event will support the Precious Prints Project, which provides free fingerprint charms to families who have lost a child. The project aims at helping families channel their grief in a healthy, compassionate way.

UT nursing students manage the project in its entirety. They collect funds year-round to buy materials to produce the charms, and train nurses in area hospitals on obtaining fingerprints and caring for the families during their devastating loss.

“Being a part of this event as race chair this year is so special to me,” said Megan Tomasek, a senior nursing student. “It gives me the opportunity to see how the Precious Prints Project makes a significant impact on the families in our communities. Seeing everyone come together and support such a good cause is so rewarding and makes all the hard work worth it. “

Since January 2011, more than 1,300 families have received a pendant.

Lynne Miller, an instructor in the College of Nursing and director of the Precious Prints Project, said that this race, while exciting and fun, is a way to ensure that funding will be available to continue providing this gift to families who experience the loss of a child.

“Sprint for the Prints is a time when participants remember the life of a precious child. Whether it is coming together as an event on campus or participating virtually, the opportunity to honor these families and remember the children still remains our focus. Registration is very much appreciated by our students and the families we help, as we rely heavily on our community’s support,” Miller added.

This year’s run will once again include a virtual component. The virtual format allows participants to complete the 3.1 miles any time from September 18 to September 25 anywhere they feel safe.

The in-person 5k will begin on will begin at 9 a.m. Saturday, September 25, in circle park on UTs campus.

Registration for the run is open online now!

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CONTACT:

Kara Clark (kmclark2@utk.edu, 865-974-9498)