Texas Health 2012 Nurse Annual Report

OUR WORK IS NEVER DONE Most of us consider nursing a calling – we know that our care doesn’t end when a shift is over. Whether staying late with a grieving family, talking with a friend about their swollen ankle or helping in an emergency at a neighborhood pool, Texas Health Resources nurses share their skills and passion 24/7.

In 2012, Texas Health nurses strengthened that 24/7 commitment in a number of ways. More than 1,200 nurses participated in Texas Health’s educational opportunities for Nursing, and more nurses than ever participated in our Nursing Career Advancement Program. We continued to bring together Nursing across the system through initiatives such as implementing one policy and procedure system for all of Texas Health and developing a system Nursing Informatics program.

Texas Health nurses embraced opportunities in 2012 to make contributions to Texas Health and the nursing profession through new knowledge and improvements. Texas Health nurses were fellows in the Texas Christian University (TCU) Center for Evidence Based Practice and Research, and a number of nurses worked on American Organization of Nurse Executives (AONE) Center for Care Innovation and Transformation projects on their units. Texas Health nurses travelled the globe in 2012 – from Thailand to California to Australia to Florida – sharing new knowledge through podium and poster presentations.

Being a nurse 24/7 in today’s rapidly-changing health care environment requires nimble, empowered nurses who can implement and sustain quick change. Read through our annual report, and you’ll see the programs we’ve established and the progress we’ve made in equipping and empowering our nurses to lead and manage change.

Regards, Joan Shinkus Clark, D.N.P., R.N., N.E.A.-B.C., C.E.N.P., F.A.C.H.E., F.A.A.N. Senior Vice President and Texas Health Chief Nurse Executive