Nursing

Supporting the world’s most respected profession through programs, data, and research in Tennessee.

Nursing Needs in Tennessee

Nursing continues to be the backbone of healthcare organizations and patient care. Staffing needs are prevalent in our state with increasing healthcare needs, an aging population, and expanded and more dynamic sites of care. It is a priority to not only address the needs that directly affect nursing but also of those that support nursing services to provide an efficient and comprehensive patient care team. 


TCWD's parent organization, the Tennessee Hospital Association, is addressing the nursing shortage through programs including the THA Nurse Residency Program and THA Student Nurse Preceptor Incentive. Learn more below.

Programs & Incentives

THA offers a variety of programs and incentives designed to attract and retain healthcare providers in Tennessee’s rural and underserved areas. From placement assistance and community matching to financial support and incentive programs, we help make rural practice both rewarding and sustainable. Our goal is to ensure that every community has access to the quality care it deserves while supporting physicians in building lasting, fulfilling careers.

  • THA Nurse Residency Collaborative

    The THA Nurse Residency Collaborative is a group of nursing and development professionals invested in developing best practices and programming to support nurses during their transition to practice. This collaborative provides two elements that support hospitals and healthcare systems across Tennessee. The first element is the THA Nurse Residency Collaborative meeting and The second is a collaboration between THA and the Vizient/AACN Nurse Residency Program™, which is available to hospitals throughout Tennessee.

    Learn More

  • THA Nurse Preceptor Incentive Program

    The THA Preceptor Incentive Program is a grant funded program from the Tennessee Hospital Association and the Tennessee Center for Health Workforce Development. This program was created to help support the nursing pipeline by providing training and an incentive to academic preceptorships in nursing, thereby increasing the availability and quality of these placements for students.

    This project is funded under a Grant Contract with the State of Tennessee.

    Learn More

  • THA Nurse Apprenticeship

    THA developed a statewide taskforce in 2024 to guide this work, consisting of hospital, academic, Tennessee Board of Nursing, and apprenticeship experts. THA has developed this 2025 THA Nurse Apprenticeship Toolkit describing nurse apprenticeship program structure. 

    Learn More

Obstacles That Nurses Face

Educational Obstacles

Faculty Retirement 


Limited qualified Nursing Faculty 


Inadequate faculty compensation compared to other nursing roles 


Innovation in educational pathways

Training Obstacles

Lack of clinical instructional sites 


Simulation & Technology Barriers: Experts and equipment 


Lack of qualified preceptors

Workplace Obstacles

Compassion fatigue 


Workplace safety 


Innovation in workplace schedule and demands 


Lack of integrated technology to alleviate documentation and technology fatigue

Thank You to Our Partners

Contact Us

Questions? Email us at TCWD@tha.com to learn more!