February 8, 2025

Foundational Lessons

written by: Christine Kueter

Even as the School bends and broadens its approach to nursing education,

it's constantly aware of the need to uphold its core, those traits that have made it so strong for so long: how it centers and supports students. How it builds belonging and community. How it’s committed to personal and professional success and excellence in every facet of nursing education.

"We have a legacy of being here for one other. That doesn’t happen if you haven’t created a place where trust and community are emphasized."

Theresa Carroll, senior assistant dean for student services

What's shifting is how, when, and in what ways support is mobilized and deployed, work that touches strategic goal 1, transforming educational offerings, as well as strategic goal 4, building trust and equity in all we do.

“One of the hardest things for our students to learn is how to ask for help,” said Theresa Carroll, senior assistant dean for academic and student services. “Whether they are concerned about a grade, or how the world outside of Grounds is affecting them, we have a legacy of being here for one other. That doesn’t happen if you haven’t created a place where trust and community are emphasized.”

A row of lettuce plants in a container garden.

A diverse group of students with a professor.

An OR nurse visits with Kenny and the CCI cart in the UVA Health hall

staff in the UVA Health blood bank enjoy the CCI cart and are led in stretching

A TCVICU nurse pets kenny the therapy dog with the cci cart

UVA Health nurse residency program attendees with Natalie May CCI faculty

Two women taking a selfie on yoga mats on the floor.

A faculty member in celebratory pose, with arms up

In summer 2024, the School hired its first-ever embedded counselor, Amelia Walton. Part of UVA Student Health and Wellness, Walton sees students individually, in groups, and advises faculty.

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In addition to ensuring it prioritizes rich learning communities, professors’ and advisors’ proximity, and offers a wealth of experiences to tap, today’s students are broadly supported in new ways, too, through activities, efforts, and individuals that tend their academic, economic, physical and emotional well-being, and buttress their sense of belonging.

“We have a saying that, ‘We can’t help you if we don’t know there’s a problem,’” Carroll added. “By showing students how to ask for assistance and allow themselves to lean on each other, and on us, we put into practice skills that they can use after they graduate, not only for themselves but for the others they will encounter in their jobs and their personal lives.”

With UVA’s foundation of excellence in view, new efforts are afoot to build in opportunities to gather, engage, connect across difference, and always, always grow.

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