2021 TNA Virtual Conference

TNA VIRTUAL CONFERENCE | 2021: YEAR OF THE NURSE 2.0 - ONE YEAR WASN’T ENOUGH
Poster Presentation Abstracts
The Ambulance is Our Emergency Room: The Voices of Rural Tennessee
Tracey Stansberry, PhD(c), MSN, APRN, AOCN (Presenter)
Richard Henighan, MSN, APRN (Co-Presenter)
Problem Addressed:
Since 2010, Tennessee has lost more hospitals per capita than any other state. Most of the closures have
occurred in vulnerable rural communities, which have an increased incidence of chronic disease and
premature death. These closures move hospital and emergency care away from those who often need it the
most and threaten to worsen existing rural health disparities.
Objectives:
Nurses will identify and understand the impact of Tennessee’s hospital closures on individuals and
communities, thereby informing policymaking and strengthening health equity in these vulnerable
populations.
Methods/Procedures:
Focus groups and informant interviews were conducted in rural communities across the state of Tennessee,
both in person and virtually. Data were coded, and themes were identified from the transcripts. Themes
revolved around local community impacts and policy recommendations.
Findings:
Rural communities are often faced with an abrupt closure of their local hospitals. The closures impact local
access to hospital and emergency services and exacerbate anxieties surrounding access to care, particularly
in emergencies. Local economies decline following the loss of a hospital. Affected rural residents are
seeking policy solutions from all levels of government.
Recommendations for Practice/Research:
Policymakers at all the federal, state, and local levels must work together to address this multifaceted rural
health equity challenge. Nurses, as the largest and most trusted group of health care professionals, are in a
unique position to advocate for patients and communities.
COVID-19 Mobile Vaccination Clinic:
Increasing Vaccine Access in a High-Risk Community
Carrie Plummer, PhD, ANP-BC (Presenter)
Anna Dennis, BA (Student Co-Presenter) | Elizabeth Gilley, RN (Co-Presenter)
Mariam Hameed, BS (Student Co-Presenter) | David Spielman, PhD (Co-Presenter)
Problem Addressed:
There is a dearth of evidence-based research on how best to provide COVID-19 vaccinations to extremely
high-risk, difficult to engage community members.
Objectives:
1. Participants will be able to identify the strengths and weaknesses of a mobile vaccination program
at reaching “high risk” community members.
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