Nursing Schools Sign Collaborative Agreement, Establish TMC

The deans of three Texas Medical Center nursing schools met recently at the TMC executive offices to formalize 10 years of informal collaboration on a variety of projects involving education, research and clinical care.

Dr. Betty Adams, dean of Prairie View A&M University's College of Nursing; Dr. Carolyn Gunning, dean of Texas Woman's University's College of Nursing; and Dr. Patricia Starck, dean of The University of Texas Health Science Center's School of Nursing at Houston, together signed an "agreement to collaborate," a document that establishes a new Texas Medical Center University Nursing Council which will advance nursing education through joint cooperation and collaboration among the three schools.

Also in attendance were Texas Medical Center President Dr. Richard E. Wainerdi; UT-Houston President Dr. James T. Willerson; TWU-Houston Vice Provost of Health Affairs Dr. Kathryn Stream; TWU-Houston Associate Dean Dr. Lucille Travis; PVAMU Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. E. Joahanna Thomas-Smith; PVAMU Associate Professor and Semester III Coordinator Dr. JoAnn Blake; and UT-Houston Interim Executive Director of Development Les Cave.

PVAMU, TWU, and UT-Houston all are state supported and offer both undergraduate and graduate programs in nursing. For the past 10 years, the

three have informally engaged in a number of projects. During the last three years, funding from the Houston Endowment has provided the resources for joint faculty professional development activities and research. Topics have included integrating technology into teaching and learning, grant proposal writing and clinical evaluation of students. Community college faculty members are also invited to attend these programs.

"The success of these efforts has led to the conclusion that the three schools should formalize their collaboration efforts," said Texas Medical Center President Dr. Richard E. Wainerdi.

The deans agreed that the critical nursing shortage in the state and in the local community can be better addressed collaboratively.

"Working together in education and research is to the advantage of all," said TWU nursing dean Dr. Carolyn Gunning.

"This agreement serves as a demonstration of the collaboration, excellence in producing professional nurses, and good-will activities that have taken place between the three programs," said PVAMU nursing dean Dr. Betty Adams.

"We three institutions are eager to build on our informal collaborative efforts," said UT-Houston nursing dean Dr. Patricia Starck. "We can now plan programs that benefit all and make the wisest use of our money."

These programs will also include the community college nursing schools for issues of common interest.

Among the collaborative projects undertaken by the three institutions are a joint master's degree program to prepare pediatric nurse practitioners, offered by TWU and UT-Houston; nurses at the UT-Houston Health Services nurse practitioner clinic serve as preceptors for TWU students; ongoing discussions between UT-Houston and PVAMU faculty members about providing education to upgrade associate degree RNs to BSN and MSN levels; all three institutions are doing collaborative research to expand upon a 1991 study regarding substance abuse among nurses and level of knowledge of nursing students regarding substance abuse; faculty from the three schools work together through the local chapter of Texas Nurses Association on such projects as Nursing Celebration.

The deans will meet at least semi-annually to identify activities to pursue collaboratively; look at ways to share resources to enhance the schools' educational offerings; seek outside funding for collaborations; and appoint faculty committees necessary to accomplish goals. All decisions require a unanimous vote.

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©2006 Texas Medical Center

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