Career Pathways Nursing Workgroup
House Bill 3801, Section 10, 89th Legislature, directs The Texas Center for Nursing Workforce Studies to establish and oversee a one-time workgroup to assess the feasibility of better aligning the certification and career pathways of nurse aides, medication aides, personal care technicians, and persons trained in nursing during service in the United States armed forces into the nursing profession.
- The workgroup will consist of:
- Executive heads (or representatives) from the Texas Board of Nursing, Health and Human Services Commission, Texas Workforce Commission, Texas Education Agency, and Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.
- Relevant academic and health care professionals.
- The workgroup will:
- Assess current standards, regulations, and laws affecting the nursing profession.
- Evaluate the feasibility of aligning licensure and certification requirements for nurse aides, medication aides, personal care technicians, and individuals with military nursing training to reduce duplication in nursing education pathways.
By December 1, 2026, the workgroup must submit a report summarizing its findings to the governor, lieutenant governor, speaker of the house, and relevant legislative committees.
Upcoming Open Meetings
Date | Time | Agenda & Meeting Information |
|---|---|---|
| Thursday, February 12th, 2026 | 10:00 AM | |
| Tuesday, August 18th, 2026 | TBD | TBD |
Workgroup Roster
Name | Organization | City | Public Health Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nina Almasy, DNP, RN | Austin Community College | Austin | Central Texas |
| Deven Barriault, MSN, RN, NPD-BC | University of Texas Medical Branch | Santa Fe | Gulf Coast |
| Serena Bumpus, DNP, RN, NEA-BC | Texas Nurses Association | Austin | Central Texas |
| Courtney Dezendorf, M.Ed. | Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) | Austin | Austin |
| Donna Carlin, MSN, RN | Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) | Austin | Austin |
| Laura Cornelson, MSN, RN | Texas Hospital Association | Austin | Central Texas |
| Michelle Dionne-Vahalik, DNP, RN | Texas Health and Human Services (HHSC) | Austin | Austin |
| Valarie Londrie, M.Ed. | Texas Education Agency (TEA) | Austin | Austin |
| Michelle Marburger, DNP, MSN, RN | Blinn College | Brenham | Gulf Coast |
| Kathy Smith, Ed.D., MS, RN | Texas Board of Nursing | Austin | Austin |
| Kathryn Tart, Ed.D., MSN, RN, FNAP | University of Houston, Andy Barbara Gessner College of Nursing | Sugar Land | Gulf Coast |
| Jayson Valerio, DNP, RN | South Texas College | McAllen | Rio Grande Valley |
| Sally Williams | Dallas-Fort Worth Hospital Foundation | Irving | North Texas |
| Karen Wright, DNP, RN, NPD-BC, NEA-BC | Parkland Health | Dallas | North Texas |