TAMIU Salutes Nurses Week
As the world continues to meet the challenge of the COVID-19 Pandemic, the frontline efforts of Nurses have deservedly earned gratitude and headlines. The week of May 6 – 12 offers an opportunity to extend that gratitude further through National Nurses Week.
Texas A&M International University (TAMIU) College of Nursing and Health Sciences Dean Dr. Marivic Torregosa said the national observance affords a chance to appreciate, recognize and invest in nurses and their vital industry.
“This has been a year of stunning challenge and loss. At no time in my professional career have I seen such a profound call to healthcare…and at no time have I been prouder to be a nurse developing the future of nursing at TAMIU. I’m especially appreciative of the role our faculty and students have taken in community outreach, including vaccination drives in Laredo and Webb County, contact-tracing and services to at-risk populations,” Dr. Torregosa said.
Torregosa said the week-long observance provides an opportunity to reflect and recognize how TAMIU Nursing impacts its community.
“While the response to the Pandemic has been all-hands-on deck, the history of this program shows a lasting legacy commitment to our community. We’ve conducted grant-supported community outreach initiatives addressing health disparities in the region through Sí Texas. We’ve addressed a critical shortage of Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners (SANE) here with a program increasing SANEs in the region. We’ve developed degree programs such as our TAMIU Family Nurse Practitioner Online to dramatically increase the number of primary health care providers in our region. Through grants like the TAMIU-SCAN Grant and TAMIU-Community Health Grant…both addressing mental health issues on campus and in our community, some $14 million in funding support has been awarded,” she explained.
Torregosa said she also hopes the week provides an opportunity for everyone to realize the importance of investing in Nursing.
“We’ve been blessed to have tremendous support from our Legislature, local hospitals and visionary donors like the Canseco Family Foundation who realize that an investment in Nursing has a direct correlation to the quality of healthcare and, by extension, the quality of life here,” she observed.
Offering insight into that impact, she outlined the Dr. F. M. Canseco School of Nursing’s program legacy to date.
“Since 2006, students have earned 876 Bachelors of Science in Nursing degrees (BSN); 17 have pursued RN to BSN completion; 112 have earned Masters in Family Nurse Practitioner and 18 Masters in Nursing Administration. We have a 100% employment rate for graduates. While the majority stay in the Laredo-Webb County region, many have seen their careers take them around the world. To that end, this week, we’re highlighting our alumni and their professional contribution on our social media accounts,” she noted.
Long after this week of appreciation, recognition and validation of the importance of investment in Nursing, Torregosa said Nurses will always be the frontline defenders to count on.
“We have a saying here in our TAMIU Nursing program. ‘If you want something done, get a nurse.’ This week may soon fade away, but the commitment, drive and impact of a Nurse knows no limit,” Torregosa concluded.
The College of Nursing and Health Sciences’ Online RN to BSN Program ranks fourth among the Best Online RN to BSN Programs in Texas, according to online source, Registered Nursing. Other recognized programs include a traditional BSN program, a Masters in Nursing Administration (online), and the new MSN Online Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) Program.
For additional information on TAMIU Nursing programs, visit www.tamiu.edu/conhs or call at 956.326.2574.
Registration for Maymester, Summer and Fall semesters is currently underway online through Uconnect. For additional information on registration, contact the Office of the Registrar via phone at 956.326.2250, email registrar@tamiu.eduor visit their website at https://www.tamiu.edu/registrar/
