Every day, across hospital corridors, rural clinics, and community health centers, Tennessee nurses quietly transform the lives of the people in their care. They are the steady hand at the bedside, the voice that advocates for patients who cannot speak for themselves, and the professional whose expertise is called upon in moments of crisis and comfort alike. Recognizing this extraordinary contribution, the Tennessee Nurses Foundation (TNF) — the charitable arm of the Tennessee Nurses Association (TNA) — has launched a meaningful public initiative: the “Nurses Change Lives” specialty license plate.
Available to any Tennessee vehicle owner, this distinctive tag is more than a decoration on your bumper. It is a rolling declaration of appreciation for the nursing profession, and a direct funding mechanism for scholarships, research grants, and leadership programs that support Tennessee nurses and the communities they serve. This article explores the history behind the initiative, how the license plate program works, who benefits, and why purchasing one matters.
Understanding the Tennessee Nurses Association and the Tennessee Nurses Foundation
To appreciate the significance of the “Nurses Change Lives” plate, it helps to understand the organizations standing behind it.
The Tennessee Nurses Association (TNA) was founded in 1905 and stands as the oldest and most established professional organization representing registered nurses in the state. Its stated mission is “to promote and protect the Registered Nurse and advance the practice of nursing in order to assure a healthier Tennessee.” TNA is a constituent member of the American Nurses Association (ANA) and serves as the unified voice for professional nursing across the state’s 95 counties.
In 1909, TNA members lobbied for their first Nurse Practice Act — an effort that finally succeeded on February 14, 1911, when the first nurse practice act in Tennessee was written into law. Over more than a century, TNA has continued to shape legislation, professional standards, and public policy affecting nurses and patients across the state.
The Tennessee Nurses Foundation (TNF) was established in 1982 as a separate, not-for-profit corporation created by TNA. Its purpose is to provide a funding mechanism for programs that address the special needs of TNA members, nursing students, and the broader nursing community in Tennessee. TNF is governed by a Board of Trust composed of registered nurses and community leaders, and its mission is “to improve the health of Tennesseans through charitable initiatives that advance nursing practice, education, research, leadership, and well-being.”
The “Nurses Change Lives” specialty license plate is one of TNF’s most visible public initiatives — a way for everyday Tennesseans to participate in the foundation’s work simply by choosing a license plate.
What Is the “Nurses Change Lives” Specialty License Plate?
The “Nurses Change Lives” specialty license plate is a state-authorized, earmarked license plate designed by the Tennessee Nurses Foundation to honor the nursing profession and raise funds for TNF programs. As the foundation itself states: “Each day YOU make a difference in the lives of those you serve. That is why the Tennessee Nurses Foundation is so proud to have been given the chance to show nurses in Tennessee how much you are appreciated by designing a specialty nurse license plate in your honor.”
What makes this plate particularly inclusive is that it is not limited to nurses. Any Tennessee resident who owns a vehicle can purchase the plate — whether they are a registered nurse, a healthcare professional, a family member of a nurse, or simply someone who values the nursing profession and wants to show support. It makes a meaningful gift for pinning ceremonies, graduations, promotions, and retirements.
How Tennessee’s Specialty License Plate Program Works
Tennessee operates one of the nation’s most active specialty license plate programs. The state currently offers over 100 unique specialty plate options, and these plates collectively raise millions of dollars annually for nonprofits, charities, arts organizations, and educational institutions across the state. In the 2025 fiscal year alone, specialty plate sales generated nearly $10 million for organizations statewide.
The fee structure for most Tennessee specialty plates is standardized and straightforward:
| Recipient | Share of Net Proceeds (after manufacturing costs) |
|---|---|
| Sponsoring Organization (e.g., Tennessee Nurses Foundation) | 50% |
| Tennessee Arts Commission | 40% |
| State Highway Fund | 10% |
The annual fee for most specialty plates in Tennessee is $61.50. After manufacturing costs are deducted from that fee, half of the remaining net proceeds flow directly to the sponsoring nonprofit — in the case of the “Nurses Change Lives” plate, that beneficiary is the Tennessee Nurses Foundation.
For drivers who want to personalize their specialty plate with a custom character combination, an additional fee applies. The Tennessee Department of Revenue maintains a publicly accessible specialty plate dashboard that allows anyone to see exactly how much each organization receives from plate sales, providing full transparency into the impact of each driver’s choice.
How to Purchase the “Nurses Change Lives” Plate
The process for obtaining a Tennessee specialty license plate, including the “Nurses Change Lives” plate, is straightforward:
- Visit your local county clerk’s office in person. Unlike many DMV transactions that can now be completed online, specialty license plates in Tennessee must be purchased in person. Vehicle owners can bring their current plate to the county clerk and request the specialty plate of their choice at any time — they do not need to wait until their regular registration renewal date, as fees are prorated.
- Request the “Nurses Change Lives” license plate by name or by its associated designation. Staff at the county clerk’s office can assist with the application process.
- Pay the annual specialty plate fee. The standard annual fee applies, and vehicle owners will receive credit for any unused registration time already paid.
- Receive your plate. Once the plate is produced, the county clerk’s office will notify the vehicle owner when it is ready for pick-up. New tags will be valid for 12 months from the date of receipt.
Who Benefits: TNF Programs Supported by Plate Proceeds
The funds generated through “Nurses Change Lives” plate sales are directed into Tennessee Nurses Foundation programs that strengthen the nursing workforce in Tennessee. These initiatives span education, leadership development, research, and professional wellness.
1. Scholarships for Nursing Education
Education is at the heart of what TNF supports. The foundation operates several distinct scholarship programs to help nurses at every level advance their credentials:
- Memorial Educational Scholarship Program: Provides financial support to nurses who are members of TNA and are pursuing higher education. Scholarships are awarded once a year in amounts of up to $5,000. The program is open to three recipients — one from each region of Tennessee (West, Middle, and East) — to ensure statewide access.
- RN to BSN Scholarship: Designed for registered nurses who are continuing their education to attain a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN). This scholarship, valued at $5,000, encourages nurses to complete the academic progression that research consistently associates with improved patient outcomes and expanded professional opportunities. Applications open annually from January through March.
- LPN to RN Scholarship: An educational scholarship specifically for licensed practical nurses (LPNs) in Tennessee who are enrolled in an accredited LPN to RN program. Awarded once a year, this scholarship supports career mobility for one of the most in-demand yet underserved segments of the nursing workforce. State data show that the number of active LPN licensees has significantly declined in recent years even as demand for their skills remains high across all nine of Tennessee’s local workforce development areas.
- Leadership and Conference Scholarship: Provides scholarship opportunities for nurses and nursing students to attend the TNA Annual Conference, the ANA Annual Convention, and the House of Delegates. First-time attendees who have not received TNF scholarships within the previous two years are prioritized.
2. Leadership Development: The Leadership Institute for Nursing Excellence
TNF provides scholarship opportunities for TNA members to participate in the Leadership Institute for Nursing Excellence, a program designed to prepare nurses for enhanced roles in nursing and community involvement. Developing nurse leaders is a strategic investment: nurses who step into leadership roles shape hospital policy, public health initiatives, and legislative advocacy that affects thousands of patients and fellow professionals.
3. Nursing Research Grants
TNF’s Nursing Research Grants Program supports registered nurses who are TNA members and who are engaged in scientific and other research projects focused on nursing practice. Advancing the evidence base of the nursing profession directly improves the quality of care delivered to patients statewide. By funding independent nursing research, TNF helps ensure that Tennessee nurses contribute to — not merely consume — the science that guides modern healthcare.
4. The Nurse Mentoring Toolkit
TNF provides hospitals and nursing schools across Tennessee with a Nurse Mentoring Toolkit — a comprehensive, practical guide containing best practices, mentee discussion starters, checklists, activities, and resources to support mentor program coordinators, mentors, and mentees. The toolkit is designed for hospital nurses and is also suitable for students enrolled in nursing programs. Given the well-documented challenge of nurse retention — with national data showing that nearly 40% of RNs considered leaving the profession within two or more years in 2024 — structured mentoring programs represent an important tool for keeping skilled nurses in practice.
5. Promotion of the Professional Image of Nursing
TNF partners with other organizations to accurately portray nursing’s professionalism and promote a positive public image of the profession. The “Nurses Change Lives” plate is itself part of this mission: it keeps nursing visible on Tennessee roads, normalizes conversations about nurses’ contributions, and reinforces public respect for the profession.
6. Tennessee Professional Assistance Program (TNPAP)
TNF supports the Tennessee Professional Assistance Program (TNPAP), which provides advocacy, referral, and monitoring services for chemically dependent, psychologically or physically impaired healthcare professionals who are licensed or eligible for licensure in Tennessee. This program reflects a compassionate, evidence-based approach to the well-being of nurses — acknowledging that those who care for others sometimes need structured support themselves.
Summary of TNF Programs Funded by License Plate Proceeds
| Program | Who It Serves | Award / Benefit |
|---|---|---|
| Memorial Educational Scholarship | TNA member nurses seeking higher education | Up to $5,000 per award; one per region |
| RN to BSN Scholarship | RNs pursuing a BSN degree | $5,000 annually |
| LPN to RN Scholarship | LPNs enrolled in an LPN-to-RN program | $5,000 annually |
| Leadership & Conference Scholarship | First-time TNA Annual Conference attendees | Full conference registration |
| Leadership Institute for Nursing Excellence | TNA members in leadership development | Scholarship for program participation |
| Nursing Research Grants | TNA member RNs conducting research | Research grant funding |
| Nurse Mentoring Toolkit | Hospitals and nursing schools statewide | Free mentor program resource guide |
| Promotion of Nursing Image | The public and nursing community | Advocacy and media partnerships |
| Tennessee Professional Assistance Program (TNPAP) | Impaired healthcare professionals | Referral and monitoring services |
Why This Initiative Matters: The Stakes for Tennessee Nursing
The “Nurses Change Lives” license plate initiative comes at a pivotal moment for healthcare workforce development in Tennessee. The state currently employs approximately 125,820 nurses — one of the largest healthcare workforces in the South — but the profession faces mounting pressures that make sustained investment urgent.
Key challenges include:
- Workforce attrition: According to the 2024 National Nursing Workforce Survey by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN), roughly 40% of RNs and 41% of LPNs nationally reported considering leaving nursing within two or more years, signaling significant potential attrition in the coming decade.
- An aging nursing workforce: The median age of both RNs and LPNs nationally is now 50, reflecting a workforce that is aging alongside the broader U.S. population. In Tennessee, the number of active LPN licensees has declined significantly since 2018 even as demand grows in all regions.
- Education pipeline gaps: Fewer new nurses are entering the profession than will be needed to replace those who retire, and gaps in BSN-prepared nurses remain a concern given evidence linking educational attainment to patient outcomes.
- Wage pressures: Tennessee registered nurses reported a median annual wage of $77,636 in 2024 — the lowest among all states reporting in the national survey — a factor that may affect both recruitment and retention of talented nursing professionals.
Against this backdrop, the scholarships, mentoring tools, leadership development, and research grants that the “Nurses Change Lives” plate funds are not symbolic gestures — they are practical investments in ensuring that Tennessee maintains a skilled, supported, and professionally engaged nursing workforce.
Who Should Consider Purchasing the Plate?
The “Nurses Change Lives” license plate is not restricted to nurses. It is open to any Tennessee vehicle owner and makes an ideal choice for:
- Active registered nurses and APRNs who want to show professional pride on the road
- Licensed practical nurses and nursing assistants committed to the broader nursing community
- Nursing students entering the profession and beginning their career journey
- Nursing educators and faculty who train the next generation of nurses
- Healthcare administrators and hospital leaders who recognize nurses as the backbone of patient care
- Family members and friends who want to honor a nurse in their lives
- < strong>Community members and patients who have been touched by nursing care and want to give back
The plate also functions as a tangible gift — particularly fitting for events like nursing pinning ceremonies, BSN or MSN graduations, promotions to charge nurse or nurse manager, and retirement celebrations.
The Broader Context: Specialty Plates as a Model for Civic Funding
Tennessee’s specialty license plate program represents a remarkably democratic model of civic philanthropy. With over 100 specialty plate options — ranging from state parks and children’s hospitals to literacy programs and wildlife conservation — the program allows residents to direct a portion of a mandatory annual fee toward causes they personally care about. In the 2025 fiscal year, over 480,000 individual specialty plates were sold statewide, collectively generating nearly $10 million for sponsoring organizations.
The “Nurses Change Lives” plate sits within this ecosystem as a direct conduit between the driving public and one of the state’s most essential professions. Every time a vehicle owner chooses this plate and renews it annually, a meaningful contribution flows to TNF — helping fund scholarships for a nursing student in Memphis, a leadership workshop for a bedside nurse in Knoxville, or a research grant for an RN in Nashville studying ways to improve patient care. The cumulative effect of many individual choices adds up to sustained, reliable support for the nursing profession across the entire state.
Conclusion: A Small Choice with a Large Impact
The “Nurses Change Lives” specialty license plate is a compelling example of how a simple, everyday decision — choosing which tag goes on your vehicle — can translate into real-world impact for a profession that shapes the health of an entire state. For the price of an annual specialty plate fee, Tennessee drivers can directly support nursing scholarships, research, leadership development, and professional wellness programs that strengthen the healthcare system for everyone.
Tennessee employs over 125,000 nurses who show up every day to deliver skilled, compassionate care across hospitals, clinics, schools, and homes. The “Nurses Change Lives” initiative — born from over a century of advocacy by the Tennessee Nurses Association and the charitable vision of the Tennessee Nurses Foundation — gives every Tennessean a way to say thank you, and to ensure the next generation of nurses has the resources it needs to keep making a difference on Tennessee roads, in Tennessee communities, and at Tennessee bedsides.