Tennessee Center for Nursing Advancement

08/31/2026

Read our latest newsletter Thoughts From the Nursing Frontline here: https://tcfna.org/thoughts-from-the-nursing-frontline-august-2026/

08/31/2026

Motivational Monday 🌿

You do not have to have everything figured out before you take the next step.

Some shifts are about making a difference. Some are about learning something new. Some are simply about getting through a difficult day and coming back tomorrow.

Whatever today brings, give yourself credit for showing up, caring, and continuing to grow.

One step at a time. You’ve got this.

08/28/2026

🩺 Fun Fact Friday

Nursing is one of the largest healthcare professions in the United States.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics counted about 3.39 million registered nurses employed in 2024,

And the profession is expected to continue growing, with approximately 189,100 RN openings projected each year from 2024 through 2034.

Behind every number are nurses caring for patients, supporting families, teaching students, leading teams, and strengthening their communities.

08/27/2026

Nursing Informatics: Where Data Meets Patient Care

Nursing informatics is one of the fastest-growing specialties in healthcare—bridging clinical expertise, data, and technology to improve patient outcomes, safety, and health equity.

These nurses aren’t just documenting care—they’re designing the systems that shape it.

What do informatics nurses do?
✔ Optimize electronic health records (EHRs) and clinical systems
✔ Turn data into actionable insights for better decision-making
✔ Lead technology implementation and workflow redesign
✔ Educate staff and support system adoption
✔ Drive quality improvement and patient safety initiatives

Workforce insights:
• 62% work in hospitals or large health systems
• 63% hold a master’s degree
• Leadership roles (like CNIO) continue to grow
• Average salary ~ $98K, with higher potential in executive roles

Why it matters:
As healthcare becomes increasingly data-driven, informatics nurses are essential to ensuring technology actually works for clinicians—not against them. They are central to advancing innovation, improving efficiency, and closing gaps in care.
This is nursing at the intersection of technology, leadership, and transformation.

Dive deeper into the infographic: https://tcfna.org/nursing-informatics/

Nursing informatics is the specialty that transforms data into needed information and leverages technologies to improve health and health care equity, safety,

08/27/2026

Our team had a great time at Walter State Community College’s Welcome Back event! We loved connecting with students, meeting aspiring nurses, and sharing what it’s like to pursue a future in nursing.

08/27/2026

We are excited to share Shaundra's "why." Hear how her grandmother led her to a career in nursing.

08/27/2026

We’re excited to share that Dr. Jennifer Hitt, Executive Director of the Tennessee Center for Nursing Advancement, recently joined the Florida Center for Nursing podcast!

It’s always valuable to connect with nursing workforce leaders across state lines, exchange ideas, and learn from one another as we work toward a stronger nursing workforce.

🎧 Be sure to listen and hear more from Jennifer and the conversation!

🎧 New episode of Frontline Nursing! 🎧

This episode features Jennifer Hitt, PhD, RN, CNE, Executive Director of the Tennessee Center for Nursing Advancement, discussing the importance of quantitative research, connecting with frontline nurses to inform advocacy, and expanding the definition of the nursing pipeline.

Available wherever you listen to podcasts or visit flcntr.org/FLN-Hitt.

08/26/2026

🐶💙 National Dog Day | August 26 💙🐶

After a long shift, there's nothing quite like being greeted by a wagging tail.

Whether they're waiting by the door, joining you for a walk after work, or happily keeping you company on your day off, dogs have a special way of helping us relax, recharge, and smile.

This National Dog Day, we're celebrating the four-legged companions who are always there for Tennessee and Appalachian Highlands nurses, no matter how the day went.

📸 We want to meet your best friend!

Share a photo of your dog in the comments and tell us:
🐾 Their name
🦴 Their favorite toy or activity
💙 How they help you unwind after a busy shift

Thank you to all the incredible nurses who spend their days caring for others, and to the dogs who are always there to care for you when you get home.

Let's fill the comments with happy faces, wagging tails, and lots of puppy love!

08/26/2026

🌿 Well-Being Wednesday

Here's your reminder to do one thing this week simply because you enjoy it.

Not because it's productive.

Not because someone needs you to.

Not because it checks something off your list.

Just because you like it.

Your life outside of nursing deserves your attention, too. 🌿💙

08/26/2026

🎙️ New Episode of Voices from the Nursing Frontline!

What does oncology nursing have to do with radon exposure? Quite a lot.

In this episode, Dr. Lisa Beasley speaks with Dr. Stacy Stanifer, an oncology nurse researcher at the University of Kentucky, about her journey from caring for patients with cancer to working to prevent cancer through environmental health research.

Dr. Stanifer shares how Radon on the Radar brings community members into the research process as citizen scientists, helping increase home radon testing, develop effective community messaging, and create sustainable solutions in rural communities.

The conversation also explores the challenges of turning awareness into action and how nurses can play an important role in cancer prevention, community engagement, and health policy.

🎧 Listen to this episode of *Voices from the Nursing Frontline* and learn why sometimes the best way to understand a community is to listen to the people who live there.