School of Nursing
Message from the Director
We have been able to teach our courses as they have been offered in the past with a return to face to face instruction. The RN-BSN/Gateway and DNP programs which were already fully online have not noticed any changes. Fall courses are being offered as they were in 2019 – on campus and in the classroom. With all of that being said, we are still holding our ace in our back pockets. As we did in the Spring of 2020, we will be able to change on a moment’s notice to either a partially or fully online offering if COVID resurges.
We are excited that we will have a new home in Davenport Hall for the Nurse Practitioner Simulation Program. They moved into their new space just before the return to school in August. This relieved some of the scheduling problems the NP program has faced. Their increased use of standardized patient actors has been a great addition to the students’ experience. Dr. Amber Roache, our Nurse Practitioner Program Coordinator, is working with Laure Allen, Executive Director, Professor of Practice, Lyndhurst Chair of Excellence in Arts Education, to develop these experiences and are presenting nationally on their work. This type of simulation has been around for a long time. We now have the space and talent to offer this exciting form of experiential learning to our students.
In May, we welcomed our new MSN students in the Nurse Practitioner and Nurse Anesthesia concentrations. Starting in January 2022, we will be transitioning the Nurse Anesthesia program to the DNP. In Fall 2022, the Nurse Practitioner students will enter their doctoral studies and BSN students will enter a newly revised program. Following shortly afterward in January 2023 we will adding another tract in DNP: Academic Nursing Education for those who wish to teach in Schools and Colleges of Nursing. As we move through all these changes, we will be incorporating the newly adopted Essentials In Nursing Education adopted by the deans and directors at our annual meeting in March which will be a competency based curriculum. Lots of change but all to better prepare our students for practice, no matter what area in which they find themselves after graduation.
--Chris Smith
Christine Benz Smith, PhD, FNP-BC
Director, School of Nursing
Chief Health Affairs Officer
Fifth Level nursing students volunteered at this year’s state-wide Fight the Flu vaccine event at Orchard Knob Baptist Church. With Professor Bronte Naples’ guidance, they administered 163 doses of flu vaccine during the four events. “Your students did an amazing job," the health department said. "Everyone was impressed by their knowledge, skill, professionalism and enthusiasm. Please let them know how appreciative we are of their service and time. We look forward to many more partnerships in the future as we work toward increasing vaccination rates for all vaccine-preventable illnesses in Hamilton County.” Thanks to Professor Naples and our 5th level students!
College Factual has ranked the MSN program in Nursing number one in Tennessee! Thank you to all the faculty, staff, and students whose success made this recognition possible.
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.