VUMC Nursing

Nurses at Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC) are gearing up for “Magnetfest,” a day of fun, festivities and prizes, as the institution seeks a third Magnet designation.

Every day, Misty Sharpe looks at the scar down the center of her chest and knows she’s a survivor. She has had four heart surgeries to repair congenital heart defects, ranging from when she was 4 days old to 4 years old. Sharpe, MSN, R.N., now works as a nurse case manager in the Pediatric Cardiology Clinic, treating patients with congenital heart defects and working to raise awareness of the condition.

Karen Hughart, MSN, R.N., has been named senior director of Nursing Informatics, where she will lead the nursing enterprise in implementing new clinical systems in a partnership with clinical leaders throughout Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC).

Christin Ayre, MSN, R.N., has been named the associate director of the Vanderbilt Patient Flow Center, effective Feb. 1.

Avni Cirpili, DNP, R.N., is leaving after five years as Chief Nursing Officer for Vanderbilt Psychiatric Hospital (VPH) to become senior vice president and Chief Nursing Officer at the Menninger Clinic in Houston.

Five Vanderbilt nurses received top honors at the March of Dimes Tennessee Chapter Nurse of the Year Awards, held last month at the Franklin Marriott Cool Springs.

Nursing research was on full display on Oct. 28 in Light Hall during the Research Day Poster Presentations, organized by the Evidence-Based Practice (EBP) and Nursing Research Committee.