The University Of Texas At Austin: What Starts Here Changes The World
The School of Nursing
 
 

2002 News

New Association Formed to Support Hispanic Nursing Students

The Association of Hispanic Nursing Students (AHNS), a constituency of the University at Texas Nursing Students Association, was established this spring. Their first officers will begin their terms in fall of 2001.

"Our mission", says faculty adviser Jolynn Lowry, R.N., M.S.N., "is to increase the number of Hispanic students in the School of Nursing and provide educated Hispanic nurses to meet the health care needs of a growing Hispanic population in Texas and throughout the United States."

Students Diana Garza Vega and Ruby Freeman began efforts to create the Association during the fall semester of 2000. AHNS members plan to visit middle and high schools this fall to talk about nursing and to encourage minority students to consider a nursing career. Academic and emotional support are important factors in keeping minority students at the University and providing this support is another goal of the organization.

The National Association of Hispanic Nurses has never had a separate student chapter, says Lowry, and consequently, is supportive of AHNS's pioneering efforts. The national association's annual conference was held in San Antonio on July 18-20 and several AHNS members attended with funds raised through spring activities.

During July, the AHNS hosted a welcoming reception for a contingent of nursing students and instructors from the University of New Mexico and New Mexico State. The UT Austin School of Nursing faculty will be assisting the New Mexico group in developing research efforts at their own schools. AHNS members will also volunteer time to orient the New Mexico students and faculty to the UT campus and to Austin.

The Association is a non-segregated group and encourages non-Hispanic students to join especially if they are interested in health care issues in the Hispanic population. ÊMary McLendon