HOUSTON – A University of Houston-Victoria School of Nursing faculty member and a graduate student won awards at the recent Texas Nurses Association District 9 Gala at the University of Houston Hilton.

 

Award winners were honored at the gala, along with 20 outstanding nurses from District 9, which is made up of eight counties in and around the greater Houston area.

 

Lisette Barton, a UHV assistant clinical professor, was one of two research grant recipients, winning $1,000 for her doctoral research at Texas Woman’s University. Her research, “The Experience of Nursing School Failure,” addresses nursing student success.

 

Lisette Barton

“This is the second grant I received for this study, and I am appreciative to the TNA for being supportive of my research,” Barton said. “It will be used to fund ongoing study concerning student retention.”

 

Kathryn Tart, founding dean of the UHV School of Nursing, praised Barton, who also specializes in women’s primary health care.

 

“Ms. Barton truly is a shining star in the UHV School of Nursing,” Tart said. “She has a vision for the future of nursing, and she’s really committed to the ideals of educating the best nurses for our communities.”

 

Joellan Mullen of Richmond, who is working toward her Master of Science in Nursing with a nurse administration concentration, won one of two scholarships sponsored by the TNA District 9 Foundation.

 

Joellan Mullen

Mullen will use the $675 for tuition and fees before her May graduation. She attends classes at the University of Houston System at Sugar Land, where UHV offers the nursing programs.

 

“I was excited and surprised when I found out I won,” Mullen said. “I joined TNA last year as a student and applied for the scholarship. It’s an honor to have been chosen.”

 

Mullen works as a nursing administrative coordinator at Texas Children’s Hospital in the Texas Medical Center in Houston.

 

“UHV’s hybrid program is very versatile, and I can go at my own pace,” said the married mother of two. “The class schedule is family friendly.”

 

Tart said Mullen is among a talented pool of nursing graduates produced each year through the program.

 

“Ms. Mullen is already a dedicated professional, and her master’s degree will make her an even more valuable leader in the nursing industry,” Tart said.

 

TNA, active for more than 100 years, promotes excellence in the nursing industry. The organization advocates for the profession to help nurses achieve quality patient care, full professional potential and career satisfaction.