School of Nursing students with their preceptors during a shift at Bradley Medical Center. Back row, from left, Ashley Pinkerton, Emma Miles (student), Grace Allen (student), Faith Powers (student), Tanya Seibers, Julia Warbington (student), and Jamie Fritz; front row, from left, Elise Meyers (student), Heather Pinson, Madison Faller (student), Alicia Fritz, Trava King, Cyndi Meeks, and Bailey Jones.
Lee University has been awarded a Healthcare Collaborative Grant from the Tennessee Hospital Association to support clinical placements and faculty training, helping to address the ongoing healthcare workforce shortage.
Lee’s School of Nursing received $7,100 through this grant in partnership with Erlanger Health System in Chattanooga and Bradley Medical Center in Cleveland (Vitruvian Health). The funding is designated to enhance the Immersion Clinical placement experience for Lee’s nursing students, strengthening their transition from education to professional practice.
As part of their final semester, all Bachelor of Nursing students at Lee must complete an Immersion Clinical internship in an acute healthcare setting. Under the supervision of a registered nurse preceptor, students apply their classroom knowledge in real-world settings while receiving valuable feedback to prepare them for the workforce.
“This grant provided us an incredible opportunity,” said Madison Faller, a senior nursing major from Guilford, In. “It helped bridge the gap between a textbook and hands-on experience, and for that I am so very grateful.”
With the support of the THA grant funding, a formal hospital orientation and meet-and-greet took place in February for Immersion Clinical students and their RN preceptors at both healthcare facilities. The event included refreshments and provided an opportunity for students and preceptors to connect in a relaxed environment before starting their clinical experience.
“The orientation not only set clear expectations and objectives for the Immersion Clinical experience, but it also allowed students to accompany their preceptor to the unit where they would be working,” said Shannon McBrayer, director of simulation and experiential learning at Lee University. “This experience gave students the chance to coordinate schedules, become familiar with the unit layout, and ask questions – helping them feel more confident and prepared for their clinical roles.”
This enhanced orientation experience aims to improve communication, confidence, and readiness for both students and preceptors, strengthening the overall learning process.
"It has been such a blessing to do my Immersion Clinicals at Bradley Medical Center this semester,” said Elise Meyers, a senior nursing major from Prior Lake, Mn. “Everyone has been so kind and helpful, and it was such a gift to have the orientation so we could see our units, meet our preceptors before clinicals started, and get more resources to help us succeed.”
For more information about the Healthcare Collaborative Grant through the THA, click here.
For more information about Lee’s School of Nursing, click here.