Texas Nurses Association

Engage Nurses in developing approaches to improve quality and safety of care and the workplace environment; inform Nurses on current legal, ethical,and practice issues through educational events, publications, and other communications. Assist Nurses to become involved with state governmental advisory committee work and coalition activities related to health. Inform Nurses regarding emerging issues and developments in the profession and the Association's response.

Tna addresses academic nursing education through internal committee work as well as collaborative activities with other associations (e.g., the Texas Association of deans and directors of professional nursing programs) and governmental agencies (e.g., Texas board of nursing, Texas higher education coordinating board). Additionally, the american Nurses credentialing center recognizes tna as an accredited provider in which tna provides continuing nursing professional development programs for licensed Nurses.

Government affairs programs advance the quality and safety of patient care through policy initiatives that optimize professional nursing practice, advance positive nursing practice environments, and promote full use of the knowledge and skills of Nurses. Initiatives are implemented through interaction with the legislature and select agencies which affect nursing and health care. Communications in various formats (e.g., publications, educational activities, dialogue forums) inform Nurses regarding laws and regulations affecting their practice.

Dietrich scholarship process description: the Texas Nurses Association a. louise dietrich scholarship policy was established during the current fiscal year, and has written procedures for scholarship eligibility, application, and dissemination of awarded funds. Students must be currently enrolled in an rn-bsn or graduate nursing program and have at least one semester left to complete their studies at the time the scholarship is awarded. They must have been a member of tna for at least one year as of the date of application for the scholarship and have a cumulative gpa of 3.0/4.0 scale (or equivalent). Tna board members, tna scholarships committee members and tna staff, and their respective family members, are not eligible. At least one scholarship is designated for a member in a rn-bsn program. The application process requires students to submit college transcript(s), resume/cv, letters of recommendation, and a short essay regarding past achievements and future goals as a registered nurse, how tna membership has helped with their nursing career, their plan for career goal achievement, etc. Tna board-appointed scholarship committee members oversee the process and use a rubric in the evaluation of the applications, essays, and submitted materials. Scholarship recipients and their respective nursing programs are notified of the award. Scholarship awards are sent directly to the institution where the student is enrolled for tuition purposes. The amount and number of scholarships awarded is contingent on the annual amount budgeted for scholarships by the tna board in the budget process. Nursing practice programs provided by tna include: educational sessions, informational materials, and other resources for Nurses on practice issues (e.g., infectious disease, nurse staffing, advocacy, patient safety, policy issues), member committee support and facilitation, a member practice resource line, as well as informational materials and resources for patients.