The Texas Nurses Association (TNA) launched the Evidence-Based Practice (EBP) Fellowship Program in 2025, and 14 nurses completed the first cohort in January 2026. This unique program is an intensive fellowship for practicing nurses that is designed to improve patient care through evidence-based practice. This 10-month fellowship brings together nurses across the state with diverse experiences, practice settings, and license types to learn, innovate, and implement EBP in their practice areas. 

 

Nationally, there are a limited number of EBP programs offering experiential learning offerings like the TNA EBP Program. EBP is the basis for decision making in nursing practice and is a core competency for graduates of all nursing programs in Texas, including vocational nursing. Nurses do not always have the skills necessary to conduct EBP projects and navigate EBP implementation challenges. Furthermore, there is limited EBP support and access to EBP mentors in resource-limited settings, such as rural and critical access hospitals which are prevalent in Texas.  

 

“The Texas Nurses EBP Fellowship Program will bring nurses from across the state together who are leading local initiatives in diverse practice settings, and will allow them to be part of the association’s efforts to invest in their success is truly inspiring,” says program faculty Amber Wood MSN, RN, CNOR, CIC, EBP-C, FAPIC.  

 

The EBP Fellowship program is designed to enhance the readiness of nurses to implement EBP in their work settings to lead the way in advancing the profession of nursing. Throughout the program, fellows will actively engage in a variety of activities aimed at supporting them as they implement projects in their work settings.  

 

The hybrid program will be delivered synchronously over ten months through a mix of virtual and in-person sessions at the Texas Nurses Association office in Austin, Texas. Experts will offer mentorship throughout the program, and support from on-site nurse champions to guide the fellows will be a pivotal component of program success.  

 

The second cohort of participants consists of 28 nurses affiliated with 20 different health systems and work settings across Texas and will begin in July. Congratulations to the following nurses: 

 

 

Anne Dominguez, RN, BSN, CPAN 

 

Britney De La Rosa, DNP, APRN, FNP-C 

 

Cassandra Hawkins, DNP, MS, RN, EBP-C, FACHDM, FANHE 

 

Chinweuche Ajaegbu, MSN, RN 

 

Christopher Madu, BSN, RN 

 

Corinna Trevino, APRN, PMHNP-BC 

 

Cynthia Castillo, MSN, RN CA-SANE 

 

Deborah Pina-Corona, RN BSN, RNC-NIC, C-ONQS 

 

Diana Sanchez, BSN, RN 

 

Elizabeth Ahern, MSN, RN, NPD-BC, MEDSURG-BC 

 

Genielyn Lee, MAN BSPT BSN, RN, CMSRN CDP CADDCT 

 

Jade Makarenko, CPNP-BC 

 

Jennifer Brewster, DNP, RN, FNP-BC 

 

Julie Jane Tuazon, BSN, RN, CMSRN 

 

Kaley Wagner, BSN, RN, Med-Surg BC, Gero-BC 

 

Kinjal Sandesara, MSN, FNP, NPD-BC 

 

Kuburat Adeyemi, MSN, RN 

 

Lauri Billingsley, MPH, BSN, RN 

 

Lorraine Siosan, MSN, RN, CCRN 

 

Nicole Kerbow, BSN, RN, IBCLC, RNC-MNN 

 

Nora Martinez, DNP, RN, MSN, APRN, FNP-BC, CA-CP SANE 

 

Olivia Frey, MSN, RN, MEDSURG-BC 

 

Rhonda Fisher, MSN, RN, MedSurg-BC, NE-BC 

 

Rona Khadka, MSN, RN, CCRN, CPAN 

 

Sandra Lylia Garza-Escamilla, AAS ADN, AAT, AA INDS, BASc., RN, MSc., Ph.D 

 

Somia Shahzadi, RN 

 

Stella Chukwuma, RN 

 

Tayana Meridy, DNP, MSN-Ed, RN, MEDSURG-BC, CNEpv

 

 

In August, these nurses will join staff and program faculty at the TNA headquarters in Austin, Texas, where they will begin their EBP journey. For more information on the program, visit https://www.texasnurses.org/page/EBPFellowship.