The Best 25 Nurses of South Central Texas 2020: The Best Time to Celebrate Nurses

Nelson Tuazon, DNP, DBA, RN, NEA-BC, CENP, CPHQ, CPPS, CPXP, FNAP, FACHE, FAAN
Vice President and Associate Chief Nursing Officer, University Health
Director, District 8 Texas Organization for Nursing Leadership

In March 2019, I wrote an article in TONL Monthly entitled, “Creating a San Antonio Nursing Consortium: Rethinking and Reshaping Professional Organizations” (Tuazon, 2019). The major premise of the article was to highlight the significance and importance of joining a professional organization. It also emphasized the duty of professional nurses to contribute to the advancement of the nursing profession by participating in professional associations (Cline et al., 2019; Matthews, 2012). Crumley (2020) and Gains (2019) reiterate the many benefits of actively engaging in nursing professional organizations including professional advancement, networking, and opportunities for advocacy efforts. Professional associations also offer honorific awards and recognitions. Such is the case with the San Antonio Nursing Consortium (SANC).

Texas Organization for Nursing Leadership Takes the Lead in Mentoring Others
In 2019, as the President of South Central Texas of Nurse Executives (SCTONE), now called the South Central Texas Organization for Nursing Leadership (SCTONL), I had the privilege of founding SANC. To strengthen and promote unity among nurses, SCTONL partnered with the Philippine Nurses Association of San Antonio (PNASA), and in cooperation with the San Antonio National Association of Hispanic Nurses (NAHN), to organize a joint education program on January 26, 2019. This education event was offered for free to the members of these organizations. Nurses from other professional associations were also invited for networking at this event, which was held at the Plaza Club in San Antonio, Texas. Close to 75 nurses gathered that day for an enriching educational program. What started as a "handshake" alliance of nurses, SANC grew from three organizations to six organizations – with the addition of the Academy of Medical-Surgical Nurses of San Antonio (AMSN), the American Association of Neuroscience Nurses (AANN), and the Central Texas Vascular Access Network (CenTexVAN). In 2020, seven additional nursing associations joined SANC including the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) San Antonio Chapter, the International Nursing Students Association (INSA) at UT Health, the Oncology Nurses Society (ONS), the San Antonio Indian Nurses Association (SAINA), the San Antonio Psychiatric Nurses Association (SAPNA), the South Texas Association of Nurses in Professional Development and Simulation (STANPDS), and the Texas Nurses Association, District 8. AMSN has since withdrawn its membership from SANC. The San Antonio Emergency Nurses Association and the Association of Women's Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses (AWHONN) have expressed their interest in supporting SANC. The Nigerian Nurses Association of San Antonio, currently in its forming stage, has also been invited to join SANC. SANC remains a non-fee association – membership is voluntary and is open to other professional associations (Tuazon, 2019).

Signature Programs and Initiatives
The signature programs and initiatives of SANC include the Annual Patient Safety Conference, the Stop-the-Bleed Campaign in collaboration with University Health, and the Best 25 Nurses of South Central Texas. The COVID19 pandemic has impacted these in 2020, but the Best 25 Nurses of South Central Texas has remained a top priority! Every year, 200 to 230 nurses are nominated for this prestigious award. Now in its third year since the initial launch, the Best 25 Nurses of South Central Texas 2020 was held virtually due to social and physical distancing mandates. The nomination for the award is based on the following selection criteria: a) role model, b) leadership qualities, c) service to the community, d) compassionate caregiver, and e) significant contributions. In honor of the work of nurses amidst the COVID19 pandemic, the celebration highlighted the achievements of nurses from various settings, specialties, and roles; nurses from minority nursing organizations, and nurses who have made significant contributions to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. The event was produced by Bonita Productions and was broadcast on Facebook Live on January 30, 2021.

The Legacy of TONL Leaders
The legacy of TONL leaders lives on by mentoring other professional nursing organizations. The inaugural team of nurse leaders from the South Central Texas for Nursing Leadership (2018-2020) that brought the Best 25 Nurses of South Central Texas include the following: Nelson Tuazon, President, Lupe Puente, Past President, Naydu Lucas, President-Elect, Jennifer West, Secretary, Bonnie Duncan, Treasurer, and Melissa Low, Kristen Lowe, Michael Dodd, and Morgan Talley, Board Members. These pioneers paved the way for the most prestigious recognition program by nurses, with nurses, and for nurses in South Central Texas! Learning from other leaders who have launched similar recognition programs for nurses, these nurse leaders worked tirelessly to bring the celebration to San Antonio and its neighboring counties. Begley (2019), CEO of the American Organization for Nursing Leadership (AONL), reminds us that nurses as influential, innovative, and inclusive.

Passing the Torch: SCTONL to SANC
The Best 25 Nurses of South Central Texas 2020 was made possible through the generous support of donors and sponsors. The major healthcare systems and universities in San Antonio have been staunch supporters of this celebration program. Dr. Danet Bluhm, the inaugural faculty adviser of the International Nursing Students Association (INSA) at UT Health and Past-President of the Philippine Nurses Association of San Antonio (PNASA), Rose Caballero, Past-President of the San Antonio National Association of Hispanic Nurses (NAHN), and Gennine Yahya, Founding Board Member of the American Association of Neuroscience Nurses (AANN) South Texas, served as co-chairs this year. Missam Merchant, President of the San Antonio Indian Nurses Association (SAINA), and Golda Manalili, President of the Philippine Nurses Association of San Antonio (PNASA) were the Executive Producers of the event. Several committee members were instrumental in the successful planning and execution of this event including Norma Avitua-Ovalle, President, NAHN; Victoria Sanchez, member, NAHN; Albert Tarriela, Vice-President, PNASA; Gerard Sto. Domingo, President, SAPNA; Carmina Ridings, Board Member, PNASA; and Roselle Sadornas, Treasurer, PNASA. Laura Townsend, Co-Founder and President of the Louise H. Batz Patient Safety Foundation, presented this year’s Patient Safety Awardee. Dr. Tommye Austin, Senior Vice President and Chief Nursing Executive at University Health was the Honorary Chair. Dr. Nelson Tuazon, Founding Chair of SANC and Director, Texas Organization for Nursing Leadership, District 8, was the Overall Chair.

The Voice of Nurses
Jarrett (2017) advises us all that leaders of professional nursing organizations should advance the nursing profession by focusing on the significance, relevance, and meaning of the voice of nurses. There is no better way to advance the voice and image of nurses, especially during this pandemic, than to recognize and celebrate their significant contributions, achievements, and accomplishments. Barnes et al. (2020) remind us that the time for meaningful recognition of nursing is always! Begley (2019) recognizes nurses for being always there, ready to care. As the Year of the Nurse and Midwife culminates, we must remember that honoring nurses is important because it lifts all nurses; because it highlights what nurses love to do; and because we want to remind nurses to always remember what nurses hope to be (Barnes et al., 2020).

References

Barnes, B., Barnes, M., & Welsh, N. (2020). The voice of a nurse: Reflecting on the international year of the nurse and beyond. Nurse Leader. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mnl.2020.11.005

 Begley, R. (2019). Thank you to our nation’s nurses: Always there, ready to care. https://www.aonl.org/news/blog/2019-05-07-thank-you-our-nations-nurses-always-there-ready-care

 Cline, D., Curtin, K., & Johnston, P. A. Professional organization membership: The benefits of increasing nursing participation. Clinical Journal of Oncology Nursing, 23(5), 543-546. doi:10.1188/19.CJON.543-546

 Crumley, C. (2020). The benefits of active engagement in nursing professional organizations: A view from here. Journal of Wound, Ostomy & Continence Nursing, 47(6), 547. doi:10.1097/WON.0000000000000700

 Gains, K. (October 11, 2019). You should join a nursing organization: Here’s why. You should join a nursing organization. Here's why.  (Links to an external site.)

 Matthews, J. H. (2012). Role of professional organizations in advocating for the nursing profession. Online Journal of Issues in Nursing, 17(1), 1. https://doi-org.vlib.excelsior.edu/10.3912/OJIN.Vol17No01Man03

 Tuazon, N. (March 2020). Creating a San Antonio nursing consortium: rethinking and reshaping professional organizations. TONL Monthly. Creating a San Antonio Nursing Consortium: Rethinking and Reshaping Professional Organizations (naylornetwork.com)