Press Release: The Texas Nurses Association Announces Inaugural Cohort of New EBP Program

For Immediate ReleaseJuly 30, 2024Contact: Darrick NicholasDirector of CommunicationsTexas Nurses Associationdnicholas@texasnurses.org512.452.0648 x 130

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The Texas Nurses Association Announces Inaugural Cohort of New Evidence-Based Practice Fellowship Program

The EBP Fellowship Program will allow nurses to explore cutting-edge research in their practice areas.

Austin, TX — The Texas Nurses Association (TNA) has launched the Evidence-Based Practice (EBP) Fellowship Program. This unique program is an intensive fellowship for practicing nurses that is designed to improve patient care through evidence-based practice. This 6-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 six 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 first cohort of participants consists of 23 nurses affiliated with 18 different health systems and work settings across Texas.• Janna Berg, BSN, RN, CPN – (Children’s Health – Dallas)• Sherl y Billones, MSN, RNC-MNN – (Houston Methodist Baytown Hospital)• Tasha D. Bryant, MSN, CCRN, FNP-BC, CPNP-AC – (Texas Children’s Hospital)• Adelaine Cunningham, DNP, RN, HACP-CMS, CLSSGB – (UT Southwestern Medical Center)• Emily Francia, RN – (Memorial Hermann)• Ebony Gebrehawariat, BSN, RN – (AccentCare)• Laurna Guidry, LVN – (Department of Veterans Affairs)• Juliana Ibekwe, BSN, RN, CMSRN – (Texas Health Resources, Presbyterian Plano)• Lauren James, MSN, RN, CPN – (Texas Children’s)• Juliann Kuykendall, BSN, RN, AE-C – (Dallas VA)• Lindsey Leija, BSN, RN – (Covenant Medical Center / South Plains College)• Maryum Martin, MSN, APRN, AGAC-NP – (Methodist Health System – Celina)• Michael McAllister, DNP, RN, CNL, LSSYB – (Texas Health Resources)• Edtrina Moss, PhD, RN, MBA, NE-BC, AMB-BC, CPHQ, CLSSGB – (Harris Health)• Nancy Ornelas, LVN – (Midland Health)• Madison Patten, BSN, RN – (The Hospital at Westlake Medical Center)• Klade Rodriguez, MHA-SM, BSN, RN, BS-AEP – (Doctor Alliance)• Vanessa Rodriguez, BSN, RN, CMCN, CMGT-BC – (Houston Methodist)• Tomika Rogers, RN, BSN, MHA – (VA North Texas HCS)• Ashley Shafer, BSN, RN, CNML – (Texoma Medical Center)• Tammy Straps, MSN, RN-BC – (Harris Health LBJ)• Alanda White, DNP, MSN, APRN, FNP-C, PMHNP-BC – (San Antonio Northwest Health Care Center)• Kirsten Williams, BSN – (Veterans Affairs Hospital)

“We are thrilled to welcome the inaugural class of Evidence-Based Practice Fellows,” says Serena Bumpus, Chief Executive Officer of TNA. “These individuals are trailblazers in the nursing profession who will turn knowledge into action and set a new standard for excellence in care.” 

For more information on the program, visit https://www.texasnurses.org/page/EBPFellowship. # # #About the Texas Nurses AssociationThe Texas Nurses Association (TNA) is a statewide membership-based professional association of licensed nurses. Founded in 1907, TNA is the most inclusive nursing association in Texas and the largest state nursing association in the country. Our members represent all segments of nursing practice — bedside to administration, consulting to advanced practice, and education to legislation — and all practice settings, including hospital, home and community health, public health, higher education, long-term care, school health and policy. As diverse as they are, TNA members share a common purpose: Advancing excellence in nursing. Visit www.texasnurses.org for more information.