Current Center Initiatives

We are actively working to find new partnerships and initiatives. We welcome organizations to reach out for collaboration ideas.

2010-2020 Rural Hospital Closures Research Project

Principal Investigator – Dr. Jessica Smith

  • Assistant – Aspen Drude
  • Goal – Investigate rural hospital closures in 17 counties and use the findings to propose solutions for future hospital closures in rural communities
  • 150 question survey sent to RNs and NPs in rural communities

Grant Writing Course

In Collaboration with UTA’s Department of English & Dr. Timothy Ponce

  • This self-paced grant writing course will give you a walk through of how to find a grant, the different pieces of a grant (including budgets), how to write a grant, and how to submit a grant.
  • To enroll in this course, please click here.

Behind the Scrubs Podcast

Season 1: A Rural Health Blueprint

  • Co-hosts – Aspen Drude, Manager of the Center for Rural Health and Nursing, and Dr. Jeff Taylor, Director of Student Success
  • This first season of Behind the Scrubs focuses on getting different perspectives of rural healthcare challenges and solutions
  • Listen on any of your favorite podcast apps by clicking here!

Rural Graduate Nurse Residency Program (Fall 2023)

Facilitators – Dr. Elanda Douglas & Dr. SuLynn Mester

  • This 12 months virtual residency program will help ensure you are at your best in your first year of RN practice!
  • Requirements include: must be a currently licensed registered nurse, must have less than 12 months RN experience, must have graduated from an Accredited School of Nursing, must be currently practicing in a rural county in Texas.
  • Objectives include: participating in evidence-based projects, demonstrating critical thinking skills, applying coping mechanisms to decrease stress levels, and orientation to organizational culture and clinical scope and standards of practice.
  • If individuals meeting the above requirements are interested in the program, please click here to apply.
  • If you are a nursing leader looking for a residency program for your new RNs, please contact Dr. Elanda Douglas, elanda.douglas@uta.edu, or Dr. SuLynn Mester, Jaci.mester@uta.edu.

For more information about any of these programs, please reach out to CRHN@uta.edu or visit our Contact Us page!