A conversation during a recent Texas A&M system board of regents committee meeting about reducing the nursing shortage in Texas included the idea of creating more medical facilities.
Making the suggestion as a way to provide more opportunities for nursing students was regent Jay Graham of Houston.
Graham said “our system should have a hospital”, adding “it’s sickening to me to drive downtown Houston and see U-T’s (University of Texas) name on every building”.
Graham also said “there’s no reason every county in the state of Texas shouldn’t have an A&M based medical clinic” for “providing those nurses that (training) capability and we’re providing our citizens that service”.
Vice chancellor of academic affairs James Hallmark said that has been discussed as a way to reduce the dependence on asking hospitals to accept A&M system nursing students.
Graham also called on the directors of the nursing programs at the A&M flagship in College Station and the system campuses in Canyon and Texarkana to communicate more…particularly when it comes to making sure nursing students have a place to pursue that career.
Click below to hear comments from Jay Graham and James Hallmark during the February 7, 2024 meeting of the Texas A&M system academic affairs committee.