AceShowbiz - Amanda Shires hosted the Nashville premiere of the East Tennessee State University documentary NURSE: Empathy Heals, celebrating the film alongside her mother, retired nurse Lisa Shires. The screening took place at Nashville's historic Belcourt Theatre in partnership with the Nashville Film Festival, followed by a reception at Anzie Blue.

The evening featured opening remarks from Nashville Mayor Freddie O'Connell and brought together nurses, students and supporters of the profession. Also in attendance were director Chusy, StoryCollab Executive Director Allison Myers, featured nurses Amber Cook, Cherie Davis and Josie Rivers, ETSU President Brian Noland and Ballad Health CEO and executive producer Alan Levine.

For Shires, the evening held particular personal significance. Having grown up witnessing her mother's dedication to nursing, she joined the celebration to honor both her mother's career and the countless nurses whose work makes a lasting difference in the lives of patients and families.

"Having my mom beside me tonight made this especially meaningful. I grew up seeing firsthand what nursing asks of a person, and how much heart it takes to care for people at their most vulnerable. Celebrating this profession with her here in Nashville was incredibly special. I hope people leave thinking about the nurses who have shown up for them and appreciating all that they give," Shires said.

Directed by award-winning filmmaker Chusy of Plan A Films, NURSE: Empathy Heals shares deeply personal accounts of nursing during the COVID-19 pandemic, natural disasters and the everyday challenges of patient care. Through stories of grief, resilience, doubt, faith and compassion, the documentary reveals the emotional demands of a profession often defined by what nurses give to others, while exploring the importance of empathy for both patients and caregivers.

The documentary is part of the Nurse Narratives Initiative, a collaboration led by East Tennessee State University that brings together StoryCollab, the ETSU College of Nursing, the Tennessee Center for Nursing Advancement and the ETSU Research Corporation, with support from Ballad Health.

NURSE: Empathy Heals is now streaming on Amazon, YouTube and Documentary+. The official trailer offers a first look at the film's intimate portraits of nurses and their experiences.