School of Nursing
Message from the Director
We have completed our spring semester and for some of our students that means Summer Break! For the graduate programs it may mean sunny, warm days but no letup on classes. Our first cohort of DNP: Nurse Anesthesia students have finished their first semester and will be going into summer with a full course load and the beginning of their exposure to patient care. We are ready to admit our two cohorts of DNP: Nurse Practitioner students when we return in August.
The NightinGala was great success. Thank you to all our sponsors, alumni and community supporters who came out for a night celebrating our programs. I direct you to a video shown that evening which depicts our history. It is really quite impressive. We are especially proud we were able to honor our Outstanding Community Partner, LifeSpring Community Health and Dr. Michelle Pickett and Jill Fikkert, founders of the organization. We also honored Jeff Teider, MSN, CRNA who was awarded the Outstanding Alumni award for his groundbreaking work in pain management and the use of opioids.
One of the most exciting things to happen to us is the funding for the new Health Sciences Building that our legislators supported and Governor Lee put in his new budget. The 92,000 square foot building will sit on Third Street across from the Hamilton County Health Department. We will keep you informed of our progress and of course the opportunity to financially support the new facility. Thanks to our legislative delegation, in particular Bo Watson, and to Dr Steve Angle and UT President Randy Boyd for shepherding this through. We are excited for this opportunity to increase our enrollment by 60%.
We seem to have made it to the other side of COVID-19. The students have been in our health care facilities during the most challenging time I have seen in my career. They are ready to get out and care for patients and COVID only seemed to make them more dedicated. That is a tribute to our faculty and staff who have supported them.
Please feel free to contact us or come by. It may be quiet in Metro but great things continue to happen!
--Chris Smith
Christine Benz Smith, PhD, FNP-BC
Director, School of Nursing
Chief Health Affairs Officer
The baccalaureate degree in nursing, master's degree in nursing, Doctor of Nursing Practice and post-graduate APRN certificate at The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (http://www.ccneaccreditation.org).
The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees.
During Nurses Week 2022, the members of Sigma Theta Tau, the nursing honor society, wanted to honor other members of the healthcare team. This semester, we selected the 9-1-1 communications department since they are an often overlooked but essential part of the healthcare team. On Tuesday, May 11th, we delivered 300 cookies to the 175 9-1-1 communication center employees to thank them for their service to the community. Pictured with the 9-1-1 staff are Priscilla Simms-Roberson (left) and Kelli Hand (second from left).
Click to view the recording of the May 6, 2022 Honors and Recognition Program for our most recent graduates.
NightinGala, the annual gala supporting nursing simulation at UTC, returned in person this year on April 22! Visit our Flickr Album for photos. A 16 minute video showcasing the past, present, and future of UTC Nursing programs premiered at the event. Congratulations to Michelle Pickett and Jill Fikkert, co-founders of LifeSpring Community Health, who received the Outstanding Community Partnership Award presented at NightinGala. Jeff Tieder received the Outstanding Alumni Award. Congratulations, Jeff!