TNA Year in Review

TNA’s fiscal year runs from July 1-June 30 and like most organizations, our success is measured by what we have accomplished in that timeframe. The 2022-2023 fiscal year was a time of great transition and transformation for the organization. Despite the large-scale changes we experienced, TNA made a great impact on the profession of nursing in Texas.

In July 2022, TNA was searching for their next Chief Executive Officer. This was one of the first and biggest tasks of the incoming board members. The board of directors, under the leadership of Dr. Joyce Batcheller, TNA board president, sourced and interviewed potential candidates. This was not a responsibility the board took lightly. They were looking for a leader who could take the helm and lead the association and the profession of nursing through a time of uncertainty and great change.

While the board was searching for TNA’s next leader, the TNA staff continued to forge ahead in the development of a transitional strategic plan which included creating a plan for the TNA Roadshows, developing a mentorship program, engaging TNA members in the community, and focusing on TNA’s legislative priorities for the 88^th session.

In September 2022, Serena Bumpus, DNP, RN, NEA-BC started as the new CEO of Texas Nurses Association. Bumpus jumped right in. On the top of her priority list was relationship building with the TNA staff and board of directors. Conducting an organizational assessment was critical in determining where the organization needed to be in the future and what resources were needed to get there.

Hitting the Road

With new leadership came the opportunity to engage with nurses across the state. It was an opportunity for Texas nurses to meet the new leaders of TNA and most importantly, for the new leaders to meet and talk with Texas nurses. TNA traveled to Austin, San Antonio, Houston, Galveston, Dallas, Ft. Worth and Arlington between October and March 2022. We traveled more than 1300 miles and met with more than 1000 nurses, as well as several hundred nursing students, during that time.  The conversations were rich as we heard about the challenges nurses were facing and the support needed from TNA. The information gleaned from these sessions informs the future work and focus of TNA.

The Power of our Voice

In February 2023, TNA hosted Nurse Day at the Capitol in Austin. Every other year, this event provides nurses an opportunity to engage in the legislative process and speak directly to their legislators about the important changes needed to support the practice of nursing in Texas. The 2023 event was by far the most attended and most successful Nurse Day event in the history of the organization. With more than 600 nurses in attendance, Texas lawmakers heard firsthand the issues nurses face. Imagine 600 nurses sharing their stories and experiences with workplace violence, the nursing shortage, and the need for a just culture in the disciplinary process. There is no question that the power of our voices that day led us to positive outcomes in the 88^th legislative session.

Good Things Come to Those Who Wait

Thanks to more than 1000 legislative office visits, the 88^th legislative session proved to be one of the most successful sessions TNA has had in over a decade and proved to be a historic year for the nursing profession. In partnership with the Nursing Legislative Agenda Coalition (NLAC), nine bills were passed and signed into law that positively impact Texas nurses. Of those nine, two of these were priority bills for TNA. For more details about specific legislation and the impact on nursing see TNA’s End of Session Report.

In the Media

With the various types of “media” TNA made sure to capitalize on all fronts. We were featured on news channels, radio shows, and in print over 100 times over the last year. In addition, our CEO represented Texas nurses on major platforms over 100 times in the last year. Our social media channels reach a new peak, with over 3,500 new followers and 336,000 impressions. We continue to see increased engagement in our social media platforms and news media relies on TNA as a trusted resource for all things related to nursing.

Engaging our Members

With close to 16,000 members, our membership growth was reflected in the engagement of our volunteers with over 300 nurses on committees and task forces doing the best to carry the voice of Texas nurses forward. In addition, we have several hundred issue advisors and over 30 TNA Champions. TNA had high engagement in our Nurse Talks Empowerment Series with over 1380 participants.

Building a Team

To support Texas nurses, TNA needs a strong team of people to get the work done. TNA is now fully staffed with a team of high performers ready to support the nursing profession in Texas. TNA team members include:

Serena Bumpus, DNP, RN, NEA-BC – Chief Executive Officer
Julia Menegay, MBA, SHRM – Chief Operating Officer
Jack Frazee, JD – Director of Government Affairs and General Counsel
Laura Kincheloe, Ed.D, MSN, RN, NE-BC – Director of Practice
Jamie Roney-Hernandez, DNP, MSN-Ed, RN, CCRN-K, NPD-BC – Director of Nursing Professional Development
Belinda Richey – Director of Membership
Lisa Maxwell – Director of Communications
Mary Pakarinen – Controller
Katy Davila – Executive Assistant
Danielle Rymer – Operations Coordinator
Andrew Kovach – Government Affairs and Nursing Practice Coordinator
Natalie Hill – Communications Coordinator
Gabi Nintuze – Communications Specialist
James Gregorski – Staff Accountant

Reaching for the Stars

The TNA Board of Directors worked with TNA staff in January to create a five-year strategic plan for the organization. Be on the lookout for next week’s Check Up to learn more about what we have planned. Our future is bright!