A Season of Spotlight: Tennessee’s Nurses, Statewide
As the days turn crisp and gratitude comes to the forefront, Tennessee is celebrating the people who carry our communities through every season, our nurses.
This November marks a milestone for recognition across our state: the Nurse of the Month program is now officially statewide. From Memphis to the Appalachian Highlands, Tennesseans can see, and nominate, the nurses who go the extra mile for patients, families, and colleagues.
In Chattanooga, our newest partnership with Local 3 WRCB launched this month, inviting the region to help shine a light on extraordinary nursing care. In Memphis, we celebrated excellence at the VA Medical Center; in Knoxville, surgical teams cheered on one of their own; and in Nashville, an emergency pediatric nurse at Vanderbilt Children’s reminded us what calm under pressure looks like. Different cities, different settings, one calling.
“Recognition turns a hard day into a meaningful one, and a meaningful day into a reason to stay.”
Why Recognition Matters, Right Now
Amid staffing challenges, rising patient acuity, and the emotional load of caregiving, recognition isn’t a “nice-to-have.” It’s a proven driver of well-being, retention, and team culture. When nurses feel seen, engagement rises, burnout eases, and the spark that drew them to the profession in the first place begins to glow again. That’s why this program is more than a monthly headline, it’s part of Tennessee’s long-term strategy to support and strengthen our nursing workforce.
This year, TCNA also began a short Nurse of the Month impact survey to learn how public recognition influences morale and intent to stay. These insights shape future programming, guide partners, and help us build systems that sustain the people who sustain us.
A Statewide Story, Powered by Community
The power behind Nurse of the Month is you, patients, peers, students, and leaders. It’s also our media partners who bring those stories into living rooms and break rooms across the state, and the local businesses who add sweetness with small gifts and notes of thanks. Together, we’re writing a culture where appreciation is visible and contagious.
Nominate a Nurse:
Have someone in mind who made a difference this month? Take two minutes to tell us who they are and why they matter.
👉 Nomination Link
November Nurse of the Month Spotlight
Celebrating Tennessee’s Nurses
We’re proud to celebrate the nurses who care for Tennessee, body, mind, and spirit. Through the Nurse of the Month program, we honor nurses whose compassion, skill, and leadership create meaningful change for their patients, colleagues, and communities.
This recognition now reaches audiences statewide, thanks to our partnerships with trusted media outlets who share these inspiring stories of care and commitment:
📍 Nashville – WKRN News 2
📍 Knoxville – WATE 6 On Your Side
📍 Memphis – WREG News Channel 3
📍 Tri-Cities – WJHL-TV
📍 Chattanooga – Now launching with Local 3 WRCB!
💙 Honoring Our November Nurses of the Month
Across every corner of Tennessee, these nurses are showing what it means to serve with heart:
- Nashville: Zoe Lowery – Matthew Walker Comprehensive Health Center
➡ [View the WKRN Segment] - Knoxville: Megan Miller- PCET Surgery Center
➡ [View the WATE Segment] - Memphis: Carolyn Watson- VA Medical Center
➡ [View the WREG Segment] - Tri-Cities: Elisha Hamilton – Ballad Health Cancer Center, Norton, VA
➡ [View the WJHL Segment]
Each of these honorees exemplifies the best of nursing—providing care that comforts, inspires, and uplifts. Their stories remind us that behind every healed wound and steady hand is a nurse who makes the difference.
🎨 Coloring the Future of Nursing: “Jack Meets His Medical Team”
The Tennessee Center for Nursing Advancement is bringing creativity and curiosity together with the launch of its new children’s coloring book, Jack Meets His Medical Team. Designed for students in kindergarten through fourth grade, this fun and educational resource introduces young learners to the many caring professionals who make up a healthcare team, especially nurses.
The story follows Jack, a young boy who visits his care team and discovers how nurses, doctors, and other healthcare workers help him feel better. Through friendly illustrations by Danielle Hoff, and short lessons, children learn that nurses do so much more than take care of patients; they teach, comfort, advocate, and lead.
Each coloring book includes a QR code inviting families to share their finished pages on social media using #FutureTennesseeNurse. Selected artwork may even be featured on TCNA’s platforms, highlighting the creativity and potential of Tennessee’s youngest future caregivers.
“This project is about planting the seed early,” said Dr. Monaco Briggs, TCNA Project Director. “When children can picture themselves as part of a healthcare team, we begin building the pipeline for tomorrow’s nurses today.”
TCNA will be distributing the books to elementary schools, community events, and pediatric care units across the state.
Together, we’re showing Tennessee’s children that nurses are everywhere, and anyone can grow up to be one.
📍 If your school, hospital, or organization would like copies of the coloring book, reach out to us at nursingadvancement@etsu.edu.
🌍 Representing Tennessee Nurses on a Global Stage
The Tennessee Center for Nursing Advancement is proud to celebrate Dr. Jennifer Hitt, our Executive Director, for representing Tennessee nurses on an international platform during her recent visit to Queen’s University in Belfast, Northern Ireland.
Dr. Hitt joined colleagues from Belmont University and global nursing leaders to share insights, exchange ideas, and explore innovative strategies for strengthening the nursing workforce worldwide. Discussions centered on workforce development, education, and collaboration, key pillars in building a resilient, empowered, and well-supported nursing profession.
“The brainstorming sessions on workforce development were energizing and full of promise,” said Dr. Hitt. “It was an honor to represent Tennessee nurses and share the incredible work happening across our state.”
This international engagement reflects TCNA’s commitment to advancing nursing through innovation, partnership, and passion, values shared by our collaborators in Tennessee and abroad. By fostering these global connections, TCNA helps bring fresh perspectives and best practices back home to strengthen the nursing profession across the Volunteer State.
👏 A special thank you to our partners at Queen’s University Belfast and Belmont University for their collaboration and shared vision in advancing the future of nursing, locally and globally.
📊 Data Into Action: TCNA’s Infographic Series
At the TCNA, we believe that data tells the story of our state’s nursing workforce, and when shared clearly, it can spark real change. That’s why we’re excited to launch our TCNA Infographic Series, translating key findings into easy-to-understand visuals that highlight trends, challenges, and opportunities shaping nursing in Tennessee.
Each infographic focuses on a specific topic, such as workforce demographics, education pipelines, well-being, and regional trends, helping stakeholders, educators, and policymakers see the bigger picture at a glance. These visuals are designed not just to inform, but to inspire data-driven decisions that strengthen Tennessee’s nursing future.
New infographics will be released regularly and shared across TCNA’s digital platforms to keep the conversation growing statewide.
👉 View the latest infographic here: https://tcfna.org/nursing-data/
We encourage you to explore, share, and use these visuals in presentations, classrooms, and community discussions. Together, we can turn data into dialogue, and dialogue into lasting impact.
Capitol Hill: Advocacy in Action
Last month, Dr. Monaco Briggs, Project Director for the TCNA, traveled to Washington, D.C. to advocate for rare disease awareness alongside the wAIHA Warriors, a cause deeply close to her heart.
While on Capitol Hill, Dr. Briggs met with Senator Bill Hagerty’s office to share the TCNA Annual Report, highlighting the state’s ongoing efforts to strengthen Tennessee’s nursing workforce, advance data-driven strategies, and elevate the voices of those caring on the frontlines.
The visit underscored TCNA’s belief that advocacy extends beyond state lines. Whether it’s advancing rare disease research, supporting nurse well-being, or shaping policy that impacts healthcare delivery, nurses’ voices matter, and their stories can drive meaningful change.
📄 View the TCNA Annual Report: https://tcfna.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Annual-Report-24-25.pdf
💬 Nurse Narratives: Sharing the Heart of Nursing Across Tennessee
TCNA is proud to announce the launch of Nurse Narratives on our website, a storytelling initiative that captures the real experiences, challenges, and triumphs of nurses across our state.
Developed in collaboration with StoryCollab, Ballad Health, East Tennessee State University College of Nursing, and the ETSU Research Corporation, this project gives voice to those who care for others every day, on the frontlines, in classrooms, and in communities.
Each narrative offers a glimpse into the humanity behind the profession: the courage to comfort in crisis, the strength to lead through change, and the compassion that defines nursing at its core. By amplifying these stories, TCNA aims to honor the people behind the data and remind us why this work matters.
Visitors can now explore a growing collection of firsthand nurse stories on the TCNA website, each one a window into the resilience, empathy, and innovation shaping the future of care in Tennessee.
🎧 Explore the stories and listen to voices from the nursing frontline!
🎓 Upcoming Webinar Series: Learning, Leading, and Strengthening Tennessee’s Nursing Workforce
The Center is excited to continue its mission of empowering and educating nurses through our upcoming webinar series, featuring experts and thought leaders who bring real-world insight to today’s most pressing issues in healthcare.
Each session is designed to spark conversation, strengthen professional skills, and promote well-being and leadership within Tennessee’s nursing community. From workplace safety to trauma-informed care, TCNA’s webinars provide accessible, evidence-based learning opportunities for nurses, students, and healthcare professionals statewide.
November 18 | 12–1 p.m. ET
🛡️ Stay Safe: Active Shooter Responses in Hospitals
Learn practical strategies to recognize potential threats, enhance situational awareness, and apply life-saving response techniques in healthcare environments.
December 9 | 10–11 a.m. ET
🩺 Beyond the Evidence: The True Impact of Sexual Assault Exams
Featuring Dr. Lisa Beasley and Dr. Andrea Sebastian
Gain a deeper understanding of the clinical, legal, and human impact of sexual assault exams and explore best practices for compassionate, trauma-informed care.
All TCNA webinars are free to attend and open to nurses, nursing students, and healthcare professionals across Tennessee. Attendees will receive valuable insights, takeaways, and resources to support their ongoing professional growth.
👉 Register and view upcoming sessions: https://tcfna.org/events/
Center Staff Engage in Innovation at Belmont Nursing Summit
We’re proud to share that the majority of our team from the Center attended the 2025 Nursing Innovation Summit at Belmont University, themed “Moving from Conversation to Collaboration and Application.”
The two-day event, held November 6-7, featured keynote speakers including Whitney Staub‑Juergens and Olga Yakusheva, interactive breakout sessions covering education, policy, systems, design, technology and data, and an Innovation Expo highlighting emerging nurse-led ideas.
Our team returned energized and ready to translate new insights into practice, continuing our commitment to nurse wellbeing, operational excellence, and workforce innovation.
