In 2009, Texas passed a flexible staffing law establishing requirements that hospitals must implement to make sure their nursing ranks are properly and adequately meeting the needs of patients and communities. That law – passed as Senate Bill 476 – is a cornerstone of Texas hospitals’ commitment to serving their communities. Recently, the law and hospitals’ compliance with it has been a source of discussion among policymakers.
THA and the Texas Nurses Association will host a joint webinar on Oct. 23 at 10 a.m. to review and discuss best practices on implementation of Texas’ nurse staffing law. The 90-minute webinar will cover:
- Best practices under the law, and examples of hospitals that serve as models for implementing it.
- The existing statute as codified in SB 476, including requirements for the nurse staffing policy and plan that hospitals must maintain, board governance and licensing rules and penalties for noncompliance.
- Literature illustrating the importance of good staffing, including its impact on patient safety, staff retention, cost savings and decreased readmissions.
Registration Pricing
Member/Non-Member: Free
Registration includes unlimited connections per registered facility.
Continuing Education
American College of Healthcare Executives
By attending the Texas’ Nurse Staffing Law Webinar offered by Texas Hospital Association participants may earn up to 1.5 ACHE Qualified Education Hours each toward initial certification or recertification of the Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives (FACHE) designation.
Credit Designation for Minimum Continuing Legal Education (MCLE)
The Texas Hospital Association has registered with the Texas State Board of Legal Specialization to meet the requirements of the continuing professional education rules covering maintenance of attendance records, retention or program outlines, qualifications of instructors, program content, physical facilities and length of class hours. This registration agreement does not constitute an endorsement by the board as to the quality of the program or its contribution to the professional competence of the licensee. This course may be submitted to the Texas State Board of Legal Specialization for up to 1.5 contact hours.
Continuing Nursing Education
Texas Nurses Association/Foundation Provider Unit designates this continuing nursing education activity for 1.25 contact hours each.
Accreditation Statement: Texas Nurses Association/Foundation Provider Unit is accredited as a provider of nursing continuing professional development by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation.
Relevant Financial Relationships Statement: The activity’s Nurse Planner has determined that no one who has the ability to control the content of this learning activity has a relevant financial relationship.
To receive credit for this continuing nursing education activity, the participant must:
- Complete and submit an online post activity evaluation
- Attend the entire learning activity
Faculty
Jack Frazee, J.D., Director of Government Affairs and General Counsel, Texas Nurses Association, Austin
Jack Frazee is a graduate of the University of Houston Law Center. He previously served as a healthcare policy analyst for Representative Garnet Coleman. In private practice, Jack advised various healthcare non-profits and elected officials on emerging policy issues pertaining to disaster management, drug development, and vaccination programs. His appellate work has received the support of the Texas Attorney General’s Office through amicus briefing and has shaped the interpretation of state and federal laws by litigating issues of first impression. Jack serves as the Director of Government Affairs and General Counsel for the Texas Nurses Association and advocates for better laws for nurses.
Heather De La Garza-Barone, J.D., Associate General Counsel, Texas Hospital Association, Austin
Heather De La Garza-Barone joined THA in April, 2022 as an Assistant General Counsel. Heather has practiced law in Texas for the past 15 years. In 2016, she began practicing health law as Associate General Counsel at DHR Health in Edinburg, TX. Prior to joining THA, Heather served as Special Counsel, Veterans Affairs at the Texas General Land Office. In this role, she advised the agency on health law and data privacy matters. She will serve as Chair of the Health Law Section of the Austin Bar Association for 2022-2023. She is a graduate of Rice University and the University of Texas School of Law.
Kit Bredimus DNP, RN, CNML, NE-BC, CENP, NEA-BC, FACHE, FAONL, FNAP, Chief Nursing Officer/Vice President of Nursing, Midland Memorial Hospital
Dr. Kit Bredimus is a native Midlander and has been with MMH since 2008 where he started as a nurse in the Emergency Department. Dr. Bredimus received his doctorate in executive nursing from Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center. Dr. Bredimus is nationally recognized nurse leader through various professional conference presentations, podcasts, and publications. Dr. Bredimus has been honored within MMH as a two-time Transformational Leadership Professional Excellence Award winner. Dr. Bredimus was featured on the inaugural list of 20 under 40 by Midland Magazine. Nationally, he is recognized as a Modern Healthcare’s Rising Star in Nursing Award, AONL Early Careerist Award, AONL Professional Young Voices Award, and a TNA Year of the Nurse Award winner. Dr. Bredimus is a Master Certified Values Coach with a focus on transformational leadership and personal empowerment. Dr. Bredimus is an active member of the American Organization for Nursing Leadership (AONL), Texas Organization for Nursing Leadership (TONL), Sigma Theta Tau International Nursing Honors Society, Texas Nurses Association (TNA), American Nurses Association (ANA), and the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE). Dr. Bredimus is a triple board-certified Nurse Executive in addition to board certifications in Nursing Leadership and Management as well as Emergency and Pediatric Emergency Nursing.
Stephen Bowerman, President and CEO, Midland Memorial Hospital
In February 2009, Stephen Bowerman was appointed Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer of Midland Memorial Hospital. Stephen started his career in 1999 at Medical Center Hospital in Odessa and served in many capacities for six years before his move to Odessa Regional Medical Center where he started as a Controller for one year and was promoted to Chief Financial Officer there in 2007. Stephen, a native of Kermit, Texas, attended West Texas A&M University in Canyon, TX graduating with a Bachelors degree in Business Administration. He received his Masters degree in Business Administration from Texas Tech in 2012. He and his wife Monica are the proud parents of two children, Dylan, who is thirteen-years-old and Jack, who is nine. Stephen serves the community on non-profit boards for Senior Link Midland and Midland Shared Spaces.