Denise Neill

The University of Houston-Victoria School of Nursing is putting out a call for all nurses, nursing students and anyone interested in the nursing field to come to the Spring 2009 Nursing Forum on May 7.

The free event, which is scheduled during National Nurses Week, will run from 2 to 8:30 p.m. in the Alcorn Auditorium of the UHV University West building, 3007 N. Ben Wilson St.

“This is a great chance for nurses to connect with others in the profession and for anyone interested in nursing to learn more about the field,” said Denise Neill, event coordinator and assistant professor in the UHV School of Nursing.

During the forum mentoring session, nurses can find out about the various career paths and options open to them. Attendees will meet for three 10-minute sessions with leaders in the nursing field.

The event will include a brief business meeting for the Texas Nursing Association District 20, which includes Lavaca, DeWitt, Wharton, Goliad, Matagorda, Victoria, Jackson and Calhoun counties. Officers will be elected at the meeting.

“People shouldn’t worry if they can’t come for the whole event. They are welcome to come just for the parts of the program that most interest them,” Neill said.

The schedule for the event is as follows:

• 2 p.m. - Registration
• 2:15 p.m. - Welcome
• 2:30-3:30 p.m. - “Nursing Student Stressors”program by Ann Malecha, associate professor at Texas Woman’s University, about how stress affects the performance of nursing students. Participants can earn one continuing education credit for attending.
• 3:30 p.m. - Break
• 3:45 p.m. - “Nurses: Building a Healthy America” program by Vivian Nowazek, assistant professor of nursing at UHV, about how nurses can take better care of themselves so they can better care for other people.
• 4:45 p.m. - Speed mentoring
• 5:15 p.m. - Break with heavy hors d’oeuvres
• 5:30 p.m. - TNA meeting, legislative update and officer election
• 6 p.m. - “Safe Staffing and More: Nurse Practice Environment Legislative Initiatives” presentation by Cindy Zolnierek with the Texas Nursing Association staff about policies and new legislation affecting the world of nursing.
• 7:30 p.m. - “Nursing Student Stressors” repeat of afternoon program. Participants can earn one continuing education credit for attending.

National Nurses Week is celebrated annually from May 6, also known as National Nurses Day, through May 12, the birthday of modern nursing founder Florence Nightingale.

For more information or to pre-register, contact the UHV School of Nursing at 361-570-4370 or nursing@uhv.edu. Registration is preferred but not required.