The Rio Grande Valley, like the rest of the nation, was facing a nursing shortage pre-pandemic. Now, two years later, we are facing a crisis.
Whether nurses are leaving due to stressful work demands or are reaching the age of retirement, the need to recruit and retain nurses is vital to everyone. It is up to nursing programs to understand the needs of potential students and look beyond the traditional pipelines to recruit people at all stages of their education and career.
As Texas’ second-largest nursing school, WGU Texas is responsible for addressing workforce issues, adapting to changing landscapes and evolving with our student populations. Western Governors University’s Michael O. Leavitt School of Health received a 2021 Center of Excellence designation from the National League for Nursing, and in 2020, WGU launched its first healthcare simulation center in the greater Houston area.
Our online nursing school is ranked as one of the nation’s top nursing programs, accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education. Through nursing and other programs, we must do what we can to support nurses who are saving the lives of thousands of people by creating accessible paths of education, training qualified workers and filling workforce gaps —serving the public interest and our local Texas communities.
Linda Battles
Regional vice president
and Chancellor
WGU Texas
Austin
Trick-or-treaters
subject of praise
I am a former Winter Texan who about six years ago met and married a wonderful lady from Brownsville. We have made our home here and I always refer to living in Paradise to my friends.
Halloween night reminded me why I love living here. The trick-or-treaters who visited our home were polite, not greedy grabbing handfuls of treats, and thankful for the opportunity to dress up and enjoy the night.
I just wanted to congratulate the kids and parents who made this such a great experience. Thank you.
Jim Bowling
Brownsville
Concerned
for country
I am writing this letter because I am deeply concerned for this land that I love.
We cannot destroy our form of government and have it too. If we deceitfully use the liberties inherent in our democracy to control and overthrow that democracy, we will soon have neither a democracy nor a country.
Ask yourself: Did the founders of our nation hazard their lives for dictatorship and demagoguery? What are American soldiers fighting for today — one person rule enforced by duplicity and fear?
You know the answers to both questions is no!
Then why should any American strive to turn our country into an autocracy? Greed and the desire for power is not a rationale for destroying the greatest democracy on the face of the earth.
The rancor that divides our nation does not have to stay that way. We can change our hearts, our minds and our strategies. We must make the decision to live by the high standards set in our Declaration of Independence, Constitution, Bill of Rights and amendments.
Then we can all work together toward a more perfect union.
Kathleen Carlson
Palmview
