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Career Pathways Nursing Workgroup

This page provides information about Career Pathways Nursing Workgroup.

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.

  1. The workgroup will consist of:
    1. 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.
    2. Relevant academic and health care professionals.
  2. The workgroup will:
    1. Assess current standards, regulations, and laws affecting the nursing profession.
    2. 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

Meeting Information

Tuesday, August 18th, 2026

TBD

TBD

Workgroup Roster

Name

Organization

City

Public Health Region

Nina Almasy, DNP, RNAustin Community CollegeAustinCentral Texas
Deven Barriault, MSN, RN, NPD-BCUniversity of Texas Medical BranchSanta FeGulf Coast
Serena Bumpus, DNP, RN, NEA-BCTexas Nurses AssociationAustinCentral Texas
Courtney Dezendorf, M.Ed.Texas Workforce Commission (TWC)AustinAustin
Donna Carlin, MSN, RNTexas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB)AustinAustin
Laura Cornelson, MSN, RNTexas Hospital AssociationAustinCentral Texas
Michelle Dionne-Vahalik, DNP, RNTexas Health and Human Services (HHSC)AustinAustin
Valarie Londrie, M.Ed.Texas Education Agency (TEA)AustinAustin
Michelle Marburger, DNP, MSN, RNBlinn CollegeBrenhamGulf Coast
Kathy Smith, Ed.D., MS, RNTexas Board of NursingAustinAustin
Kathryn Tart, Ed.D., MSN, RN, FNAPUniversity of Houston, Andy Barbara Gessner College of NursingSugar LandGulf Coast
Jayson Valerio, DNP, RNSouth Texas CollegeMcAllenRio Grande Valley
Sally WilliamsDallas-Fort Worth Hospital FoundationIrvingNorth Texas
Karen Wright, DNP, RN, NPD-BC, NEA-BCParkland HealthDallasNorth Texas