Associate Professor Kathy Newnam was one of 38 nurse practitioner leaders selected as a Fellow in the American Association of Nurse Practitioners. Newnam has been with the College of Nursing since 2014.

Her teaching interest includes research, theory, evidence-based practice methods and advanced health assessment. Her vast clinical experience and nationally funded research program provide students specialized training informed by her clinical research and translation to best practices through active dissemination.

Newnam’s scholarly projects include improving respiratory outcomes of the neonate, reducing necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) in the fragile infant, improving access to human milk in the neonatal population and the use of purposeful language as a strategy to improve neurodevelopmental outcomes and reduce neonatal stress though hospitalization.

Newnam has a BSN, and MSN from Old Dominion University, and a PhD from Virginia Commonwealth University. She is a board-certified neonatal nurse practitioner and is on staff at the University of Tennessee Medical Center.

She is dual certified as an APN in both pediatrics and neonatal care. She serves on the editorial board as a section editor of Advances in Neonatal Care and has authored or co-authored several contributions in journals and textbooks and has received several awards and honors in her field.

“Dr. Newnam is a top-notch clinician and nurse scientist who is doing ground-breaking research in the area of neonatal care,” said Victoria Niederhauser, dean of the College of Nursing. “This national recognition exemplifies the outstanding contributions that she is making to understanding how best to care for fragile neonates.”

The American Association of Nurse Practitioners recognizes NP leaders who have made outstanding contributions to health care through clinical practice, research, education or policy. Newnam will be inducted as a fellow during a virtual ceremony in June.
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CONTACT:
Kara Clark (8659749498, kmclark2@utk.edu)

The 2021 Pediatric Pharmacology and Psychopharmacology Update is provided by the University of Tennessee College of Nursing.

Thursday, March 25

12 P.M. – 3 P.M. EST

Online-Live Webinar

Objectives and more information about event may be found at: tiny.utk.edu/CNE

Questions? Email vfowler2@utk.edu

Click here for more information

Eric (’18) and Melissa Hearn (’18) met at church in 2008. At the time Melissa was a Spanish major at the University of South Alabama. Eric had just returned home from a church mission and was working to figure out his future plans. They fell in love instantaneously and were married the same year.  Little did the couple know that their love for each other would lead them both into a rewarding profession that they could share.

During their time in school Eric became a natural in biology. This was the course that inspired him to become a nurse. Melissa, watched his fascination grow, and as she helped him study for his Anatomy and Physiology class she knew she wanted to join him on his journey to become a nurse.

Eric and Melissa completed their Associates of Science in Nursing in 2013. Eric became an ICU nurse while Melissa started working in the ER.  Shortly after, they welcomed their first child and started working towards their bachelor’s degrees.

Once they obtained their BSN in 2015 they decided to continue their journey by pursuing a master’s degree at the University of Tennessee, College of Nursing.

”While we had different concentrations, we were able to take some courses like pharmacology together,” said Melissa. “We share fond memories of sitting side-by-side listening to Dr. Farr’s lectures.”

Pursuing a master’s degree as full-time nurses and parents was difficult, but together they powered through the tough times.

“We always worked as a team, studying together late into the night, taking turns with the baby, and picking up comfort food for each other after long days,” said Eric. “Our professional achievements mean so much to us because we shared every step of the way.”

Both Eric and Melissa are now pursuing doctoral degrees, again taking turns with house chores and bedtimes. “We thought about taking turns doing our doctoral degrees, but we know we are capable of more when we work as a team,” said Melissa. “The journey of becoming a nurse, is so much sweeter when shared with those you love.”

 

CONTACT

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

Ashley (’07) and Nate Davis (’07) were both College of Nursing students when they met in 2005. What started out as a friendship grew into more between the two nurse anesthesia students.

“Nate and I were friends just like most of the other SRNAs in our class. I admired Nate’s integrity, the way he interacted with other people, and absolutely adored him as a friend,” said Ashley. “In addition to a very handsome appearance, his sense of humor and his humility were attractive. As we got to be better friends, I quickly realized we had so much in common. Our outlook and philosophy on life, goals, and work ethic were similar.”

Ashley and Nate were two out of 12 students that were in the SRNA cohort. The SRNA students got to know each other well due to the long hours required during the anesthesia program.

“I remember Thanksgiving Day in 2006 I was the SRNA on day call and Ashley was the SRNA on night call. It was a very busy trauma day that day and I had worked straight through the entire day. Ashley came in that evening to relieve me. I remember her coming into the big trauma case I was working and I was so happy to see her,” said Nate. “I was happy to see her because she was my friend and we were able to catch up while I gave report. I was happy to see her because I knew this was going to be a challenging case and she was very smart and would do an awesome job in a stressful situation.”

Working together is all the couple has ever known. They were classmates working together in both didactic and clinical settings, and they transitioned together as colleagues following graduation.

In 2012 Ashley and Nate started Advanced Anesthesia Solutions, Inc. a company that manages clients anesthesia needs.

“There are days that we eat, sleep, and work side-by-side,” said Ashley. In 2017, they became business partners on a second endeavor- a boutique fitness studio.

Ashley and Nate’s anesthesia business has more than tripled in size since 2012 and their boutique fitness studio is opening a second location in 2021. “So many good things in my life have come from his love, encouragement and support,” said Ashley. “We have been together as a couple since 2007 and my love and admiration for him have only grown stronger. We work well together.”

CONTACT

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

 

Graduates from the College of Nursing at UT had one of the highest first-time pass rates in the 2020 National Council Licensure Exam (NCLEX-RN)—98.5 percent.

This pass rate is higher than both the national average of 86.6 percent and the Tennessee average of 91.6 percent.

The test, administered by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing, is used to determine which candidates are adequately prepared to enter real-life practice and work as registered nurses.

“Our dedicated undergraduate faculty and staff work diligently, in the classroom, simulation, and clinical environments, to ensure our nursing students are prepared to successfully pass the NCLEX,” said Shelia Swift, assistant dean of undergraduate programs. “We are committed to training our students to be exceptional professional nurses, and we appreciate all our clinical partnerships – those in primary care, acute care, and academic service learning settings – for all you do to assist us in training our nursing students to lead care, create partnerships, and improve health.”

A total of 131 UT Knoxville nursing graduates from the Bachelor of Sciences in Nursing program and the Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing program took the test for the first time in 2020.

“We are incredibly proud of our nursing students who have been dedicated to their studies and achieved an outstanding first-time pass rate on the NCLEX exam, despite overcoming many challenges related to the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Sadie Hutson, executive associate dean of academic affairs for the college. “Our faculty have been passionate in preparing a robust nursing workforce to meet the needs of the state of Tennessee and the country. Our nursing graduates consistently demonstrate a high level of competence and positively impact the health of the communities in which they work and live.”

In addition to the undergraduate Traditional and Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing programs, the College of Nursing offers a RN to BSN track as well as graduate degrees and advanced practice certifications, with online and blended formats available for selected programs.

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CONTACT:

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

Kimberly Brown, DNP, MSN-Ed, RN, clinical assistant professor at the College of Nursing has been selected through a competitive application process for the National League for Nursing’s year-long Lead program, one of three tracks in the NLN Leadership Institute, an initiative of the NLN Center for Transformational Leadership under the direction of  Janice Brewington, PhD, RN, FAAN. Now in its 10^th year, Lead is designed for nurses in education and practice who have recently been challenged with rapid transition into leadership positions, those in leadership positions who desire a formal leadership program, and those emerging and aspiring to lead.

Brown coordinates, develops, and teaches in numerous courses for undergraduate nursing programs. Brown is working to develop initiatives to increase racial diversity, equity, and inclusion within the college of nursing. Brown is also the Chair of Undergraduate Student Affairs Committee, and Chair-Elect for the Diversity Advisory Council at the College of Nursing.

The 2021 NLN LEAD cohort is a group of 22 nurse educators and practice leaders chosen from colleges, universities and health care institutions. This program requires a significant time commitment for an entire calendar year. Participants identify personal and professional goals; learn about what makes an effective leader; and strategize how to re-tool skill sets and experiences to achieve individual benchmarks. To that end, everyone receives intensive one-on-one executive coaching, in addition to attending online and live group coaching sessions, retreats, and webinars, where they study leadership theory and development that includes case study review.

To kick off the program, all 2021 NLN LEAD  participants will attend a virtual orientation session on February 8-9. In addition to the planned series of virtual interfaces, the group will next convene in a live setting at the 2021 Intensive LEAD Retreat, July 11-14 in Washington, D.C., and later attend the 2021 NLN Education Summit: Leading and Teaching Beyond Resilience, September 23-25 at National Harbor near Washington, D.C.

“This year, more than ever, has made abundantly clear the importance of having health care leaders prepared to handle unanticipated and intense crises and challenges,” said NLN Chair Patricia S. Yoder-Wise, RN, EdD, NEA-BC, ANEF, FAONL, FAAN, Professor and Dean Emerita at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center and president of The Wise Group. “As the most trusted profession in health care, nursing is critical to securing the success of health care strategies and systems of delivery under the direst of circumstances. The 2021 LEAD participants will be distinctly positioned to guide current and future nurses in fulfilling their responsibilities on the health care team.”

Brown received a BSN degree from the University of Tennessee Knoxville, an MSN degree from King University, and a DNP degree with a specialization in Administration from the University of Tennessee Chattanooga.

Brown received a Small Research Grant Award from the Gamma Chi chapter of Sigma Theta Tau in 2018 for her Doctor of Nursing Practice Project: The Effectiveness of Emotional Intelligence Training of Nurse Leaders on the Job Satisfaction of the New Graduate Nurse.

NLN CEO Beverly Malone, PhD, RN, FAAN, said, “With COVID-19 still raging and the vaccine rollout just getting underway, the National League for Nursing was nevertheless determined to hold the LEAD program in 2021, despite the challenges of beginning the year virtually. The League is proud to be in the forefront of tackling our public health crisis through multiple endeavors, of which LEAD is one, to support excellence in nursing and nursing education. We are excited to launch into the year’s programming with such an eager and qualified group of participants.”

For more information about Lead and other Leadership Institute programs within the NLN Center for Transformational Leadership, please contact Janice Brewington at jbrewington@nln.org.

About the National League for Nursing: Dedicated to excellence in nursing, the National League for Nursing is the premier organization for nurse faculty and leaders in nursing education. The NLN offers professional development, networking opportunities, testing services, nursing research grants, and public policy initiatives to its 40,000 individual and 1,200 institutional members, comprising nursing education programs across the spectrum of higher education and health care organizations. Learn more at NLN.org.

 

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CONTACT:

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

Lora Beebe, professor, at the College of Nursing was recently selected to serve as the Chair of the Institutional Review Board (IRB) at The University of Tennessee. The IRB regulates all research activities involving human subjects on the UT Knoxville campus. The IRB is a committee appointed to ensure rights, safety, and welfare of human research subjects; ensure compliance with all applicable federal and state laws/regulations; and conduct ethical reviews of human research activities including initial, continuation, modification, unanticipated problems and alleged noncompliance.

“As a researcher working with community dwelling persons with schizophrenia for 25 years, I have long been attuned to the ethical issues surrounding consent and respect for persons,” said Beebe. “Over my past three years of IRB membership, I learned a great deal about the policies and processes surrounding human subject protections and research requirements.”

Beebe received her BSN from Marshall University, her MS and PhD from the University of Kentucky. Through her research, she has masterfully shepherded scholarly practice for her work to transform psychiatric nursing practice and nursing education nationally and internationally.

“I want to express my gratitude for Dean Niederhauser. She has been very supportive of me pursuing the IRB chair position from the beginning! She is a champion of not only nursing, but CON faculty in doing whatever she can to help us achieve success,” said Beebe.

As chair, Beebe will be responsible for proposal reviews, conducting IRB meetings, assigning research proposals to reviewers based on reviewer expertise, collaborating with the human research protections program (HRPP), and maintaining initial and ongoing training on ethics and other IRB related topics

“I think it is wonderful for the CON to be represented in this important and visible group.  Having a leadership role on the IRB brings me to the table to give input into decisions that affect research across campus – I will have advance knowledge of new research options and processes that affect our research in the CON, and I can ensure that the perspective of CON researchers is considered when changes are made. As chair, I will also have an opportunity to be involved in the accreditation initiative of the Human Research Protections Program,” said Beebe. “Serving on the IRB is intellectually stimulating and the IRB and HRPP staff and leadership are supportive and collegial.  I’m grateful to them for providing mentorship and I am thrilled to be part of their team!”

 

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CONTACT:

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

Nominations are now open for UT College of Nursing faculty and students for the DAISY Faculty Award and the DAISY In-Training Award. All nominations received by Monday, March 29^th will be considered. A committee composed of faculty members and advisory members will review blinded nominations. Honorees will be announced at the College of Nursing’s spring commencement ceremony.

The DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nursing Faculty

This award was created as a way to demonstrate appreciation to faculty for their commitment and inspirational influence on their nursing students. To nominate a faculty member, submit the electronic nomination form. This form includes a space for you to share an example of the nominee’s excellence in education and to review specific award criteria. All faculty members are eligible for nomination. Learn more about the award by clicking here.

The DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nursing Students

This award recognizes senior nursing students for the above-and-beyond care and compassion that they show to patients and their families as they learn. To nominate a nursing student, submit the electronic nomination form. This form includes a space for you to share an example of the nominee’s compassion, kindness, and connection with their patients and families. All graduating students are eligible for this clinically focused award, which will be presented at the College of Nursing spring commencement ceremony. Learn more about this award by clicking here.

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CONTACT:

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

College of Nursing Graduate Programs announces their secondary application deadline for Fall 2021 admissions for the BSN-DNP, Post-Master’s DNP and PhD Programs-February 15, 2021. Application information for our hybrid distance education BSN-DNP, MSN-DNP and PhD Programs can be located at tiny.utk.edu/Fall2021. This extension excludes applications for the BSN-DNP, Nurse Anesthesia program and our Graduate Certificate Programs. Contact us at congrad@utk.edu or by phone at 865-974-7606 with questions. #volnurse, #utkPhDNurse, #utkDNPNurse.

As a little girl Savannah Clay was inspired by her grandmother, and her extreme passion for the nursing profession. “She was a nurse for 30 years, and extremely passionate about her work,” said Clay. “She would always go the extra mile for her patients. I know that because when I would be out with her, people would come up and tell her how much she had impacted their lives or the life of their loved ones by the care she had provided them at the hospital.”

Clay knew that she wanted to be a nurse just like her grandmother, and make a positive impact on the lives of others like her grandmother.

After failing to gain admission into the College of Nursing as a freshman, Clay channeled her disappointment into hard work and defied the odds to be admitted the following year.

During her time as an undergraduate at UT, Clay worked with underserved Knoxvillians through the Volunteer Ministry Center and the Lost Sheep Ministry. She reached out to Knoxville-area Arab Americans and developed an interactive simulation to teach her peers how to provide culturally congruent care for that community. Clay was inducted into the local chapter of the International Honor Society of Nursing and served on the College of Nursing Dean’s Advisory Board. She was also active in the Student Nurses Association, the Student Government Association, Student Alumni Associates, Minority Enhancement for the University of Tennessee (ME4UT), the Multicultural Mentoring Program, the Black Cultural Programming Committee, and the Campus Entertainment.

Clay also received the Torchbearer Award, the university’s highest student honor. She was notified of her selection with a surprise classroom visit from Victoria Niederhauser, dean of the college and other UT administrators.

She grew to become an accomplished nursing student, committed to providing culturally competent care and eliminating racism in health care. Clay spent 3 years in a surgical ICU, and is now a 3rd year DNP-FNP student.

“Scholarships helped allow me to continue attendance at my beloved alma matter, receive an excellent education, and pursue my dream of becoming a nurse practitioner,” said Clay. “Scholarships have helped alleviate a heavy financial burden and allowed me to give greater focus to my education and future practice.”

To help students like Savannah continue to fulfill their dreams or to learn more about Big Orange Give visit https://bigorangegive.utk.edu/nursing/.
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CONTACT:

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