Dear Student, Faculty and Alumni,

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year in 2010! I hope each of you enjoys the season with those dear to you.

The Fall 2009 semester was a semester of firsts. We graduated the first class of 7 MSN students. It was wonderful to place the MSN hood on each of the students at graduation. Janet Leatherwood, MSN, RN, and Chief Nurse Executive for The Methodist Sugar Land Hospital gave a wonderful talk on Leadership using the ICARE values at the pinning ceremony. Faculty placed the first MSN School of Nursing pins on these 7 students.

I am looking forward to coming back to the new year and the new semester. We will welcome 48 new Second Degree BSN students, twelve of whom will be on the UH System Cinco Ranch campus. We will admit RN-BSN students on the UH System Cinco Ranch campus in Katy for the first time.

We are currently admitting students to the MSN, RN-MSN Bridge, and RN-BSN programs. So, if you have a nurse friend who is “thinking about going back to school”, tell them to check us out at www.uhv.edu/nursing or send them a copy of the attached flyer.

Have a safe and fun holiday!!!

Sincerely,
Dr. Tart

Second Degree BSN First Pinning Ceremony Summer 2009

Welcome back!

Welcome back to the new fall 2009 semester of school! We have moved into the new state-of-the-art Brazos Building on the Sugar Land campus. The facility is truely amazing and students will have a wonderful opportunity to experience innovative educational technology at its best. On the Victoria campus we have a new 3G simMan for advanced simulation experiences. Also, we have expanded our program to the Katy campus at UH Cinco Ranch with our MSN students. We also welcome three new nursing faculty this fall, Lisette Barton, Sandy McNeely and Kelly Lardy. The faculty and staff are ready to welcome you and facilitate your learning experiences. So whether you are a new student, returning student or an alum coming back for your advanced degree, come join us this fall by setting yourself apart and making a difference in leading nursing. Sincerely, Dean Tart

spring 2009 Pinning Ceremony Pictures

Welcome to Summer 2009

Welcome back to the Summer semester of school! The summer session only lasts 10 weeks so I have included tips on surviving a short semester that may be helpful to you. The faculty and staff welcome you and and hope that you find learning to be fun and meaningful. If you have taken the summer off, please get some much needed rest. Everyone, be safe in your summer travels and enjoy the out doors. So whether you are a new student, returning student or an alum coming back for your advanced degree, we are glad to have you as part of the UHV SON family!
Sincerely,
Dean Tart

UHV School of Nursing’s graduates are known for their leadership in the communities where they live and work. The first ever pinning ceremony in Victoria took place on May 16^th. It was an historic day. Jean Hermann, RN, MSN of DeTar Hospital spoke to those being pinned with the UHV nursing pin. Her speech was inspiring and called all nurses to be leaders in their communities. If you want to see the breadth and depth of what it means to be a nurse leader please read her speech!

We are fortunate to have nurse leaders like Jean support higher education and UHV!

UHV School of Nursing Faculty & Students serves community to fight Swine Flu

On Friday, May 1, 2009, from 4:00-6:30 pm UHV School of Nursing faculty and students helped to man the KPRC Channel 2 Television phone banks to answer questions about the Swine Flu (H1N1) for the public. We answered a total of 120 phone calls from the public to the station. Four nursing faculty and four students participated. Dr. Denise Neill, Christina Martin (RN-BSN student) and myself were interviewed by the reporters on TV. Faculty: Dr. Denise Neill, RN Dr. Vivian Nowazek, RN Dr. Shainy Varghese, RN, PNP Dr. Kathryn Tart, RN Students: RN-BSN program Christina Martin, RN Diana Barton, RN Second Degree BSN program Andrew Svetlik Tina Ihazah

Spring 2009 Coffee with the Dean event - Photos

Nurse Day at the Capitol 2009

March 3, 2009
Local nurses of Victoria and surrounding areas attended Nurse Day at the Capital 2009! Specific legislation that Texas-based nursing organizations support was discussed with various State Senators and State Representatives. The Texas Nurses Association is in support of the Safe Hospital Staffing bill SB 476 by Senator Jane Nelson and HB 591 by Representative Donna Howard and Susan King.
Another important issue is addressing the school nurses dilemma which would allow-“No School Nurse on Campus” Notification to parents in SB 158 by Senator Rodney Ellis and HB 151 by Rep. Garnet Coleman.
The reality of the nursing workforce shortage is lived daily and a real solution of increased funding for nursing programs, like UHV’s School of Nursing, and across the state is sought. Coalition Appropriations Request SB 1 by Senator Steve Ogden and HB 1 by Jim Pitts address this issue.
Our very own Senator Glenn Hegar is a strong supporter of nurses in Texas along with our Representative Geanie Morrison. We are grateful and appreciative for the time they have dedicated to us in actively listening to the nurses from their respective districts. For more information on the nursing coalition request visit www.texasneednurses.org
The following individuals participated in Texas' 18th District visit with Senator Hegar on March 3, 2009, Nurse Day at the Capitol (listed in alphabetical order): Julie Cordova, Blanche de Leon, Denise McMahan, Marianna Measom, Vanaja Nair, Yves Senat, Deidra Teoh, Jusy Wagner-Pullin, and Kimberly Walford.

Spring Coffee with the Dean Event

Spring Break -Visit to Washington , D.C.

Spring Break for me was a visit to Washington, D.C. for an American Association of Colleges of Nursing Deans’ meeting. At the meeting I met with Nursing Deans from around the country as we all try to improve nursing education for our students and Universities while impacting health care in the areas of the country we serve. The association is for nursing programs that offer baccalaureate, graduate and doctoral degrees.

We learned about getting our message out, awesome Federal funding opportunities, building partnerships with our hospitals, working well within our schools of nursing.

We visited with our senators and congressmen to let them know about the support we need for nursing education in the ways of scholarships for students, faculty and building a strong future in nursing so we can fulfill our mission of caring for the populations we serve.

We also learned about the current financial situation, how we got here and what the future might hold. One question nurses need to be asking is: “What would it cost the economy not to have nurses?” How do we quantify (in dollars) the good work we do by keeping people healthy, helping them heal and getting back to their activities of daily living, home and work? So, I want to encourage you to know that there is a place for you in nursing and your profession needs you more than ever. You are doing the right thing by being a nurse and furthering your education!

Pictured here are: Kathryn Tart, Nursing Dean, University of Houston Victoria, Texas Congressman Ralph Hall, Dr. Betty Adams, Nursing Dean, Prairie View A&M University and Dr. Jo Kahler, Nursing Dean, Texas A&M University – Texarkana

Upcoming Events
SAVE THE DATE - Spring Coffee with the Dean
Upcoming Open House in Sugar Land
Health Fair - April 16, 2009
Important Dates and Deadlines
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News
UHV receives $25,000 grant for nursing scholarships
Nursing shortage - How does Victoria fare?
Nursing shortage -The role of Victoria College (UHV mention)
Nursing shortage - UHV offers more
UHV nursing receives $205,000 grant
UHV School of Nursing receives $10,000 grant for lab equipment

More News..

Welcome message to UHV School of Nursing Students

Welcome back to the new semester of school! What an exciting time to be in nursing - so many opportunities for you in your future! The faculty and staff are ready to welcome you and facilitate your learning experiences. So whether you are a new student, returning student or an alum coming back for your advanced degree, we are glad to have you as part of the UHV SON family!
Sincerely,
Dean Tart