VUSN Communications

Vanderbilt University School of Nursing Assistant Dean, PhD in Nursing Science Angela McNelis, PhD, RN, FAAN, ANEF, CNE, was awarded the Mary Adelaide Nutting Award as part of the 2024 National League for Nursing Awards. The award is given to an individual who demonstrates outstanding teaching, contributes as a leader in nursing education, encourages creative interactions with students from diverse backgrounds, mentors and serves as a role model for junior faculty, and publishes scholarly works that advance nursing education. Read More

The Vanderbilt University School of Nursing has been awarded a $1.5 million grant to grow its effective sexual assault nurse examiner education program. Read More

Vanderbilt University School of Nursing Associate Dean for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Rolanda Johnson and Vanderbilt University Medical Center Senior Director, Nurse Diversity and Inclusion, Mamie Williams were awarded a $25,000 grant for their project that expands programs focused on the diversification of the nursing workforce, increasing the retention of diverse nurse leaders, and promoting cultural awareness and sensitivity within nurse work environments. Read More

Vanderbilt School of Nursing Associate Professor Deonni Stolldorf, PhD, RN, has been named a fellow of the American Academy of Nursing, one of the most prestigious honors in nursing. Fellows are selected based on their contributions and impact to advance the public’s health. Read More

Three Vanderbilt University School of Nursing faculty members won awards at the American College of Nurse Midwives annual awards celebration in May 2024. Read More

Three Vanderbilt School of Nursing faculty members were recently recognized for excellence across various nursing disciplines with fellow designations and major awards. Read More

A new partnership with AARP Tennessee and the National Museum of African American Music is allowing the Therapeutic Music in the ICU program led by Vanderbilt School of Nursing Professor Ruth Kleinpell and Vanderbilt University Medical Center Professor Joseph Schlesinger to expand, with outreach to veterans and older adults at long-term care facilities in Middle Tennessee. Read More

Monica Keith, assistant professor of anthropology, recently published insights into the complex factors contributing to maternal hypertension and health disparities. This research sheds light on the alarming rates of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy in the United States, particularly among Black mothers. Read More

Being named a fellow is one of the highest distinctions the nursing profession bestows, as it recognizes the impact an individual has made on health, health care and nursing. Professors Jennifer Kim and Rolanda Johnson and Assistant Professors Leanne Boehm and Lori Schirle will be inducted into the academy on Oct. 7. Read More

Kendra M. Faucett, DNP, BS’00, CNM, APRN, CNE, FACNM, will become academic director for the Vanderbilt University School of Nursing’s Nurse-Midwifery specialty on September 18. She comes to Nashville from her role as an assistant professor and course coordinator at Frontier Nursing University.  “I am thrilled to be joining the No. 1 midwifery program in the country,” Faucett said. “Vanderbilt has an outstanding reputation,... Read More

The Tennessee Action Coalition has included a School of Nursing faculty member and a Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt nurse in its 2023 cohort of Tennessee Rising Star Nurse Leaders. VUSN Assistant Professor Monika Schmidt Do, DNP, FACC, and clinical staff leader Cory Smeltzer, RN, were among 25 young Tennessee nurse leaders named rising stars. Read More

Vanderbilt University School of Nursing Associate Professor of Nursing Stephanie DeVane-Johnson, PhD, MSN’97, CNM, FACNM, has been awarded a two-year Diversity Supplement grant from the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD). The National Institute of Health (NIH) supplement supports early career researchers of color by providing mentorship, training and career development opportunities... Read More

Julia Steed will become academic director of the Vanderbilt University School of Nursing Family Nurse Practitioner Program. She replaces Courtney Pitts who led the top-ranked specialty for the past seven years. Read More

School of Nursing Professor and Associate Dean for Academic and Curriculum Affairs Betsy Kennedy, BSN’89, MSN’93, PhD, ANEF, has been named as an Association of Women’s Health and Obstetrics Neonatal Nurses fellow. Read More

The American Academy of Nursing has selected four Vanderbilt School of Nursing faculty for its 2022 cohort of fellows. Read More

Assistant Professor Megan Simmons has been named academic director for the Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Specialty at the Vanderbilt University School of Nursing, effective August 1.  Read More

Peter Buerhaus, PhD, FAAN, FAANP(h), a renowned researcher who studies the health care workforce and economy will share his expertise on the future of nursing, health equity and the relationship balance between nurses, leadership and educators. He will be the inaugural speaker in a new Leadership Lecture Series presented by the Vanderbilt University School of... Read More

Nursing educators challenged with incorporating nursing informatics into their curriculum in accordance with the new AACN Core Competencies for Professional Nursing Education can get a jump start at a three-day conference offered by Vanderbilt University School of Nursing this summer. The Vanderbilt Informatics Summer Teaching Academy (VISTA) will be July 20-22, 2022, at Vanderbilt’s park-like... Read More

Pamela R. Jeffries, PhD, RN, FAAN, ANEF, FSSH, an internationally recognized leader and innovator in nursing and health care education, will become dean of the Vanderbilt University School of Nursing, effective July 1, pending Board of Trust approval. Jeffries, professor and dean of the George Washington University School of Nursing in Washington, D.C., succeeds Linda Norman, who plans to step down from her leadership role on June 30.  Read More

The Chesapeake Mental Health Collaborative (MD), is launching collaborative Psych Evaluation and Medication Management services and have named VUSN PMHNP/Divinity Alumna Jeaninne Blackwell as leader. Read More