Strength in Unity, Excellence in Action

CONNECTING WITH FELLOW NURSES

Beyond the educational offerings, the conference created countless opportunities for connection. Whether meeting colleagues for the first time, reconnecting with longtime friends, engaging with exhibitors showcasing new products and services, or participating in special events throughout the week, attendees experienced the power of belonging to a professional community dedicated to advancing nursing.

Events like the TNA Annual Conference are possible because of the dedication of many individuals. We extend our sincere appreciation to our speakers, poster presenters, exhibitors, sponsors, volunteers, planning committees, reviewers, and TNA staff whose months of preparation created an exceptional experience for our attendees. Their commitment reflects the collaborative spirit that defines our association.

While the conference has concluded, its impact continues. New ideas will become quality improvement projects. New relationships will grow into collaborations. New knowledge will influence patient care, education, leadership, and advocacy throughout Texas. The conversations started in Grapevine will continue in hospitals, clinics, classrooms, boardrooms, and communities across our state.

As we reflect on this year's conference, we are reminded that the future of nursing is not built by individuals working alone, it is built by professionals who learn together, support one another, and take action together.

Thank you to everyone who joined us in making the 2026 Texas Nurses Association Annual Conference a success.

We look forward to continuing the journey with you at the 2027 Texas Nurses Association Annual Conference in Corpus Christi as we begin Navigating New Horizons in Nursing.

Evaluation Comments and Stats

Keynote Bob Dent Evaluation Comments

1. Thank you for having Bob speak, I needed to hear everything he was saying
2. My number one takeaway from this keynote was that mental health struggles can affect anyone, regardless of their position, success, or experience
3. Made me wonder what mask I wear to work
4. I appreciated Bob's openness and willingness to share his story. I took away that I can seek help if needed.
5. The opening session of “The Mask You Wear” was very impactful as I have nurses struggling with mental health. It offered tangible items for me to take back to my team!

Keynote Renee Thompson Evaluation Comments

1. Dr. Thompson’s work empowers me to lead with greater clarity and confidence, knowing that fostering civility is both an educational priority and a professional imperative. It strengthens my resolve to model the behaviors I expect, to address issues early, and to help students build the resilience and communication skills needed to contribute to a healthier nursing workforce.
2. Renee is always great. Not all cases are bullying, but incivility always needs to be addressed.
3. Toxic working environments promote burnout. It is my duty to speak up!
4. I will practice scripting, so that when confronted with situations that involve bullying, I will have a better way on how to approach it.

Concurrent Session Evaluation Comments

Track: Clinical Excellence & Innovation

Session: Alternative Strategies and Innovation in Nursing Education

Evaluation Comments:

1. I am currently a new hire onboarding specialist, and I learned ways to use games to help educate new hires.
2. I loved the innovative strategies for delivering education. I have begun to incorporate gamification into our simulations but would love to do this for the computer-based education. I thoroughly enjoyed this presentation and appreciated the truly novel concepts.

Session: Strengthening Interdisciplinary Collaboration Through a Unit-Based Care Model: A Quality Improvement Initiative

Evaluation Comments:

1. I want to use this presentation as further proof that we should implement this model on our unit/organization.
2. I truly enjoyed this presentation as well. It broke down the importance of interdisciplinary communication to promote optimal patient outcomes. They had a great hands-on game that put lack of communication into perspective.

Track: Healthy Work Environments & Ethical Practice

Session: Strength in Unity: Innovation, Ethics, and Reflective Leadership in Nursing Education

Evaluation Comments:

1. I left with actionable ideas and factors to strengthen collaboration and innovation within nursing programs using AI wisely.
2. I am more committed to supporting students to embrace and use innovative approaches in education and practice.

Session: The Bridge We’ve Already Built: Connecting Care, Curiosity, and Innovation in Nursing Practice

Evaluation Comments:

1. I want to try the what is not working method to get my nurses involved in research.
2. We can learn from new nurses just as much as we can learn from experienced nurses

Track: Workforce Growth & Career Development

Session: Beyond Orientation: Strengthening the Quality of Orientation through a Collaborative Approach

Evaluation Comments:

1. I am going to suggest that we implement a follow-up training for all new hires within 60 days of hire to review any knowledge deficiencies, onboarding issues and evaluation of the onboarding process so that we can identify ongoing issues and develop strategies to mitigate any future challenges.
2. We have a program similar to this but we will add in the quality piece, I thought that was spectacular.

Session: Novel Nurse Leader Role: Academic Partnership & Professional Nurse Growth

Evaluation Comment:

1. I appreciated the real-world examples and practical applications
2. I really want to talk with my leaders to see how we can partner with some colleges nearby to help not only the students there but also students within our facility that want to change positions.

Track: Leadership, Advocacy, and Professional Influence

Session: Nurse Leaders and Digital Stress

Evaluation Comments:

1. I did not realize how much digital stress was effecting me and my life.
2. I plan to prioritize reducing digital stress when off the clock!
3. Add a topic in the MSN program addressing digital burnout.

Session: Hard Talks, Real Growth: Leading with Clarity and Courage

Evaluation Comments:

1. This gave me ideas for a nursing leadership transition to practice academy.
2. I appreciated the discussion about the need for formal transition-to-practice programs for leaders. As a NP student, this is something we could really benefit from.

Overall Conference Evaluation Comments

What is one key action or idea you plan to apply in your work as a result of attending this conference?

1. Listen to my direct reports more closely. Sometimes in the business of the day, their comments become a hum in the background and I need to bring that hum forward and listen.
2. I want to move my project forward and incorporate AI to make it more successful.
3. Continue to work on my initiatives and there are a couple of news ones I will try to implement based on the conference.

General Evaluation Comments

1. Thank you for all that you do in involving students and LVNs.
2. Everything was awesome! This was my first TNA conference, and it exceeded my expectations. TN