Swift Named Executive Associate Dean of Academic Affairs

Shelia Swift has been selected as the executive associate dean of academic affairs. She previously served in an interim role in this position.

Swift joined the College of Nursing in 2009 as a graduate teaching assistant. She went on to become a clinical instructor and later a clinical assistant, and associate professor. In 2016, Swift was appointed as the assistant dean of undergraduate programs.

“It is a privilege being a part of the College of Nursing and working with students, faculty, and staff who consistently strive for excellence,” said Swift. “I frequently stress to others that it takes the entire faculty and staff team working together to accomplish our mission to educate a diverse nursing workforce to improve health for all.  I am excited to continue empowering others and serving the college in this new leadership role.”

Swift will now be leading the college as its chief operating officer for academic matters. Swift will use her leadership skills to ensure that students have a positive learning experience that results in them becoming competent professionals who can meet the health care needs of the state and nation.

“I am delighted to announce the appointment of Shelia Swift as the executive associate dean of academic affairs,” said Victoria Niederhauser, dean of the college. “She brings an exceptional blend of expertise, passion, and visionary leadership to this crucial role. Her dedication to advancing educational excellence, fostering innovative teaching, and learning strategies, and cultivating a collaborative environment is truly commendable. With her extensive experience in academia and her profound commitment to student success, I am confident that Dr. Swift will contribute significantly to our institution’s academic mission, elevating our programs and initiatives to new heights.”

Swift has over 30 years of experience as a registered nurse in various clinical, leadership and academic positions. Her research interests focus on the registered nurse’s work environment, nursing errors, and nurse-sensitive patient outcomes.

Swift was a 2017 AACN Leadership for Academic Nursing Programs Fellow and is a member of Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society. She received the Faculty Excellence Award in 2017, the Outstanding Clinical Faculty Award in 2015, and the Sigma Theta Tau Outstanding Dissertation Award, Gamma Chi Chapter in 2014. She recently was honored at the college’s 50th Anniversary Gala as an Outstanding Alumni Award winner. She was also appointed to the Chancellor’s Leadership Academy.

Swift received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) from Tennessee Technological University in 1992 and her Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) from the University of Tennessee in 2013.

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CONTACT:

Kara Clark (865-9749498, [email protected])

Barry Selected as Young Tennessee Nurse Leader

Laura Barry, clinical instructor at the college, was recently selected as a Tennessee Action Coalition, Nurse Leader Rising Star.

This is an elite group of young Tennessee nurse leaders representing the three grand divisions of Tennessee, a variety of racial and ethnic backgrounds, frontline clinicians, academicians, and managers. 

“When I was in nursing school, an inspiring instructor told me that nurses can change the face of healthcare if we work together,” said Barry. “She motivated me to fight for the advancement of the profession and to understand that the true impact of nursing is not only affecting individual patients, but also the entire healthcare system. This passion continues to fuel my practice in teaching, bedside practice, and professional service. I never want to forget that nurses are an incredible force within healthcare whenever we raise our voices collectively.

The aim of the Tennessee Rising Star Nurse Leader program is to engage and empower young nurses to lead the profession in improving the health of Tennesseans.

Selection was based on criteria determined by leaders from the Tennessee Action Coalition, Tennessee Nurses Association, and Tennessee Hospital Association; and includes leadership among peers and others, professional growth and development, contribution to building a culture of health in the community, and commitment as a role model for health.

“We are immensely proud of Laura Barry for her outstanding achievement as a Tennessee Action Coalition, Nurse Leader Rising Star,” said Victoria Niederhauser, dean of the college. “Her selection among this esteemed group of young nurse leaders is a testament to her dedication, passion, and commitment to the nursing profession. Laura’s exemplary work as a clinical instructor, her active involvement in professional organizations, and her continued pursuit of advanced education demonstrate her drive to make a positive impact on healthcare.”

Barry received her BSN from the University of Tennessee, Chattanooga, and her MSN in nursing education from Tennessee Tech University. She is currently pursuing a PhD in Adult Learning at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Additionally, she is a certified emergency nurse and a trauma-certified registered nurse.

She continues to practice within a staff nurse role at a level one trauma center. Barry is the membership ambassador for the Gamma Chi Chapter of Sigma Theta Tau, the secretary of District Two of the Tennessee Nursing Association, and a member of the Emergency Nursing Association.  

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CONTACT: Kara Clark Cardwell ([email protected], 865-974-9498)

Barton Named 2023 ASCO Fellow

Deb Barton the McMahan-McKinley Endowed Professor of Gerontology at the University of Tennessee, College of Nursing, has been named a Fellow of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (FASCO). The title of FASCO is a recognition bestowed upon American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) members who have shown extraordinary dedication for their voluntary efforts that benefit the Society, the specialty of oncology, and most importantly, the patients whom they serve.

Barton is recognized nationally and internationally as an expert in symptom management as it relates to cancer.  She participates in national committees at the National Cancer Institute, and also serves as leadership in large research networks, such as NRG Oncology.

“I am honored to be recognized as a Fellow in the American Society of Clinical Oncology,” said Barton. “It is a privilege to participate in an international organization that strives to share knowledge to improve the quality of life and health of those facing a cancer diagnosis as well as to be part of guideline committees that disseminate evidence-based practice standards.”

Barton began her career at St. Mary’s Hospital in Knoxville where she worked with patients and families who are facing a cancer diagnosis. In 2002, Barton graduated with her PhD in nursing from the University of Indiana at Indianapolis. Since then, she has been a funded investigator in oncology symptom management, having developed, implemented, and completed 14 large multi-site intervention trials in various cancer related symptoms. 

“The College of Nursing is so pleased to learn of Dr. Barton’s fellow status in FASCO,” said Tami Wyatt, associate dean of research. “She is a stellar researcher and advocate for persons experiencing the cancer journey. We know how fortunate we are to have Dr. Barton on our campus engaged in research and giving of her time and talent to mentor our junior cancer researchers in our college.”

As the world’s leading organization of its kind, ASCO represents more than 45,000 oncology professionals who care for people living with cancer. Through research, education, and promotion of the highest-quality patient care, ASCO works to conquer cancer and create a world where cancer is prevented or cured, and every survivor is healthy.

Barton was formally recognized at the Annual Meeting Opening Session on Saturday, June 3.

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CONTACT:
Kara Clark Cardwell (865-974-9498, [email protected])

Nursing Students Participate in Clinical Opportunities through eTHRIVE

Nursing Students Participate in Clinical Opportunities through eTHRIVE
Empowering and Transforming public Health nursing education and practice for Rural underserved areas to Improve care using Virtual-based simulation and Experiential strategies dubbed eTHRIVE was granted by the Health Resources and Services Administration in the summer of 2021. The goal of the grant was to strengthen and retain the public health nursing workforce in rural Appalachia through a collaborative community-academic partnership with Remote Area Medical (RAM). Over the past two years, 112 RN to BSN students have had the opportunity to participate in synchronous clinical opportunities to experience public health nursing through the eTHRIVE grant. The third cohort completed their synchronous clinical experiences through their Population Health Course.

Remote Area Medical Clinic

Eight RN to BSN students at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville participated in a RAM clinic.
The college partnered with RAM, to accomplish the goals of the eTHRIVE project. RAM is a major nonprofit organization whose mission is to prevent pain and alleviate suffering by providing free, quality healthcare to those in need.
The students had the opportunity to demonstrate their public health nursing skills with community members in the Knoxville area. The students worked in triage and assessed community members prior to receiving medical, dental, or vision services.
“I had the best experience at the RAM clinic,” said one student. “Not only does RAM provide access to care. Their one more patient mantra is at the heart of every volunteer. I was not only impressed by the wide range of services RAM offered, but the incredible level of dignity and respect they showed to every person was truly special.”
The Knoxville RAM clinic served over 800 community members during the three-day clinic held at the Knox Co Fair Grounds.

RAM Telehealth

Another RN to BSN students chose to participate in clinical opportunities through RAM Telehealth. The telehealth model is site-based at Knoxville Area Rescue Ministries (KARM). RAM Telehealth offers telehealth visits for KARM guests every Monday and Wednesday afternoon.
A nurse is present with the guest while the provider participates from several states across the country. This model allows the nurse to provide hands-on care and assessment in conjunction with interdisciplinary communication and plan of care development with the provider.
“Telehealth was not a form of nursing I had been exposed to,” said an eTHRIVE student. “Seeing the nuisance of this type of care and how our relationship with technology has been combined with healthcare was interesting. I could see their assessment style in this environment and even explored a digital stethoscope and camera utilized to allow a physician to join the assessment remotely.”
Students were able to use some of the telehealth tools, such as a digital stethoscope and otoscope that were purchased for RAM through the eTHRIVE grant to enhance the quality of assessment and care.

Virtual Simulation

The final opportunity allowed students to participate virtually with the simulation team at the college. Twenty-three students interacted with two live standardized patients in the community setting.
“I felt like I learned a great deal about things that I normally wouldn’t deal with as an ER nurse,” said one student.
Each scenario was followed by rich debriefing highlighting the importance of consideration of social determinants.
“On behalf of the entire eTHRIVE team, we wish to express our sincere appreciation to Remote Area Medical, the UT simulation team, and Dr. Green-Laughlin for the incredible support and involvement in this rich learning opportunity for the RN-BSN students” said Lisa Davenport, eTHRIVE Project Director.

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CONTACT:
Kara Clark Cardwell (865-974-9498, [email protected])

Research Inclusion Supports Equity

Estimates suggest at least one in five (or up to a million) lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, asexual, and/or another identity (LGBTQIA+) adults are currently caregivers, with nearly half providing care to someone with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias, or ADRD . Yet few studies on ADRD caregiving have examined the unique needs of LGBTQIA+ people living with ADRD and their caregivers, according to Joel Anderson, associate professor in the College of Nursing.

Anderson and his colleagues at Emory University and the University of Nevada-Las Vegas are currently in the second year of their multi-site have received a $2.3 million grant from the National Institutes of Aging to create a national collaborative network and teams that to increase inclusion of older LGBTQIA+ adults in aging research, specifically those living with memory loss or caring for someone with memory loss.

“LGBTQIA+ people more frequently help care for someone living with dementia and are at increased risk of developing dementia themselves. Yet, they remain underrepresented in aging research, which affects the creation of services and supports for this population,” Anderson said.

Called RISE for Research Inclusion Supports Equity, the project launched in 2022. In addition to the lead researchers at UT, Emory, and UNLV, the team also includes experts in aging and caregiving from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, George Washington University, the University of Kansas, and Columbia University. The goals of the ongoing project are to use community-based participatory research methods to establish a research registry of 1,000 plus LGBTQIA+ people with dementia and LGBTQIA+ dementia caregivers. This will be accomplished by developing, implementing, and evaluating tailored recruitment and engagement programs. The project includes a national network of LGBTQIA+ community members, service providers, clinicians, and researchers with expertise in working with LGBTQIA+ people living with dementia and LGBTQIA+ caregivers. This network includes a national advisory board and community advisory boards in Knoxville, Las Vegas, and Atlanta.

“Our national advisory board includes representatives from SAGE (Services and Advocacy for LGBT Elders), AARP, and the Alzheimer’s Association, among others. Our community advisory boards include representatives from local service organizations, such as the Office on Aging and Knox Pride, as well as LGBTQIA+ caregivers,” said Anderson.

Through the RISE registry and the community-focused events, LGBTQIA+ people living with memory loss or caring for someone with memory loss can engage in focus groups and discussions to guide the research, as well as register to be informed of additional research opportunities. Individuals who sign up for the registry will have the opportunity to participate in ADRD research to ensure representation and inclusion in research findings. Additionally, the RISE registry provides LGBTQIA+-supportive resources for adults with memory concerns or for those who serve as caregivers.

Eventually, the team will develop replicable, regionally tailored models for engagement and inclusion of LGBTQIA+ people living with dementia and LGBTQIA+ dementia caregivers in aging-related clinical research. These models will be shared with Alzheimer’s Disease Research Centers, clinicians, researchers and clinical research networks, and community members to engage LGBTQIA+ people in aging research.
“As the population continues to age and diagnoses of ADRD increase, it is imperative that we understand the unique challenges and needs of vulnerable populations to ensure health equity and quality of life,” said Anderson.

More information about RISE can be found on the project website: https://www.theriseregistry.org.

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CONTACT:
Kara Clark Cardwell (865-974-9498, [email protected])

Graduate Programs Virtual Information Session

The College of Nursing Office of Student Services is hosting two Graduate Programs Virtual Information Sessions in honor of National Nurses Week!

The sessions will take place on Thursday, May 11 at 3p.m. and Friday, May 12 at noon.

The College of Nursing DNP program was recently ranked among the top public universities in the U.S. News & World Report’s 2024 Best Graduate Schools rankings. The college is now 28th among public universities, rising 11 spots since last year. The rankings are categorized for the year following their release because they are intended to help the next round of students make decisions.

Join the session here! To learn more email [email protected].

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CONTACT:

Kara Clark Cardwell (865-974-9498, [email protected])

Alumni Spotlight, Lisa Wagoner

Lisa Wagoner graduated from the BSN program in 2007 and the MSN program in 2013. She currently serves as the Health Services Supervisor for Knox County Schools where she is responsible for developing and implementing policies for the district and working with the community to ensure students’ health needs are being addressed with effective care. 

Her experience as a Vol Nurse was different than most. “My group already had associate degrees in nursing,” said Wagoner. “Most of us were mature students with families. We were a tight knit group and helped each other through the program.”

Following graduation, Wagoner worked as a school nurse for the county and as a critical care nurse at St. Mary’s Hospital. She transitioned to her role in Knox County Schools in 2009.

Compassion, helping others, and the desire to learn led Wagoner into the nursing field.

“I loved learning about diseases and the effects on humans,” said Wagoner. “Nursing allows me to use the skills I learned during my time as a Vol Nurse to help others during illness in hopes to facilitate recovery.”

Wagoner follows a philosophy that all students must have timely access to medical care to support the learning environment. Her most successful career accomplishment has been increasing the number of BSN prepared nurses in Knox County Schools. These nurses can support her nursing philosophy.

Her advice for current nursing students is to always ask questions, continue learning and never give up.

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CONTACT:

Kara Clark Cardwell (865-974-9498, [email protected])

A Chance Encounter

Dori Nicol’s journey nursing journey has taken many twists and turns. At 20 years old Nicol had no idea what she wanted to do with her life, and her first college attempt failed. But a chance encounter brought her to where she is today.

“I became a private sitter for two senior citizens in my hometown,” said Nicol. “One of those families enrolled me in CNA school at the request of their loved one. I never had health care on my radar in fact it was the last thing I thought I would ever want to do, but my passion for taking care of others was ignited by those experiences.”

Following CNA school Nicol decided to apply to LPN school where she was introduced to the role of a CRNA. She was drawn to the autonomy, critical thinking, and advanced hands-on skills that were required to care for patients during tenuous circumstances.

“I decided in that moment that I would do anything to become a CRNA,” she said.

Nicol went on to complete her associate degree, and then applied for the RN to BSN program at UT. She completed her BSN while gaining experience in the Trauma- Surgical ICU and then the ICU float pull at UT Medical Center.

Following her time as an RN to BSN student, Nicol was accepted into the DNP Nurse Anesthesia concentration. The program did not come without struggles for Nicol. As most of her classmates were preparing for marriage and children, she found herself in mid-life.

“During grad school I found that my experience was different,” she said. “I found myself going through a divorce, health procedures, and being the primary caretaker for my aging parents.”

None of these obstacles hindered Nicol from chasing her dreams. Nicol will graduate in May as a CRNA. While her formal education has been completed, Nicol plans to further her career by becoming a nurse educator.

“I feel pride in being a Vol Nurse,” said Nicol. “It embodies excellence. Through every academic experience I was pushed to always think more, explore more, know more, and to be able to find my voice.”

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CONTACT:

Kara Clark Cardwell (865-974-9498, [email protected])

Undergraduate Spotlight, Skylar Sopko

Skylar Sopko is a senior at the University of Tennessee, College of Nursing. Sopko is a BSN student and will graduate in May. Sopko is a member of the Nursing Honors Program, Chancellor’s Honors Program, SGA, Nursing Ambassadors, undergraduate research, and Phi Mu sorority. She currently works at East Tennessee Children’s Hospital. Last summer she got the opportunity to work at the Cleveland Clinic. Following graduation, she plans to move to Chicago to work at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in their Medical ICU!

Read more about Sopko and her time at UT below:

Why do you want to be a nurse? What drew me to nursing is the role of a nurse – nurses prioritize patient-centered holistic care which is the type of impact I want to make in the healthcare field. I also like how one of the nurses’ most important roles is to be an advocate for their patients and to support them while they are in such a vulnerable state. Interacting so closely with patients daily is what keeps me going in this field.

What inspires you? First, the patients I interact with daily inspire me to keep pursuing this field. Taking care of and gaining the trust of patients, their families, and their lives is truly an honor. Second, my family inspires me. My family’s continuous support and love encourages me to follow my dreams of becoming a nurse even if it leads me to moving away to a new state seven hours away. They have given me the confidence to be the person I am today, and I will forever be grateful for that.

What has been one of your favorite memories during your time at UT? One of my favorite memories during my time at UT was the Tennessee Alabama game this past fall 2022. Being in the stadium and watching the goal winning kick with all my closest friends was insane. One of my favorite memories nursing wise was the 2022 Spring Break trip to Belize that I went on with other nursing students! Getting to travel to another country with a different healthcare system to set up healthcare clinics was lots of fun and really helped me to become more confident in my nursing skills.

What are your career goals? After graduation I will be moving to Chicago to work at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in their Medical ICU! I plan on working in critical care for a few years before figuring out what I might want to go back to school for.

The most influential element of my UT nursing education has been… The faculty and clinical mentors I have been taught by influence and reaffirm my passion for nursing every day. They are passionate about what they teach and are shaping the next generation of nurses, which is a huge task. They are the most influential element of my UT nursing education and have instilled the confidence in me to go out and become a nurse once I graduate.

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CONTACT:

Kara Clark Cardwell (865-974-9498, [email protected])

Undergraduate Spotlight, Noah Anderson

Noah Anderson is a senior at the University of Tennessee, College of Nursing. Anderson will graduate this month with his BSN. He currently serves as head ambassador for the college, and he represents the college on the Provost’s Student Advisory Council. Anderson recently accepted a position as a trauma surgical nurse resident in Seattle, Washington.

Read more about Anderson and his time at UT below:

Why do you want to be a nurse? I want to be a nurse because I enjoy a profession which challenges me intellectually and provides flexibility in life. I also enjoy leaving a positive impression in my patients’ lives.

What inspires you? I am inspired by new experiences, challenges, and environments. I enjoy doing new things, figuring out challenges, and getting to know new places and people.

What has been one of your favorite memories during your time at UT? My favorite memory while at UT was the Tennessee vs Alabama game and rushing the field with all my friends.

What are your career goals? My goal is to become a trauma surgical critical care nurse at a level 1 trauma center. I also would like to eventually become a clinical instructor at a university.

The most influential element of my UT nursing education has been… my clinical instructors and preceptors. I could not have asked for better clinical instructors or preceptors to promote a positive learning environment.

What makes the college special? I have found my community here. The friends I met at nursing orientation are the friends I will have for a lifetime.

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CONTACT:

Kara Clark Cardwell (865-974-9498, [email protected])