Texas State University, CHRISTUS Health partner to strengthen nursing education, workforce

Texas State University’s St. David’s School of Nursing and CHRISTUS Health have announced a partnership designed to expand nursing education opportunities and strengthen the healthcare workforce across Texas.

The agreement was finalized during a signing ceremony on Nov. 19 at CHRISTUS Santa Rosa Hospital-San Marcos.

TXST President Kelly Damphousse, CHRISTUS Santa Rosa Hospital-San Marcos President Robert Honeycutt and Chief Nursing Officer Anna Gore participated in the event.

The collaboration, which started during the Fall 2025 semester with 25 students, will provide TXST nursing students with focused clinical experiences within CHRISTUS Santa Rosa Hospital-San Marcos. Students will learn in a setting that emphasizes compassionate care, interdisciplinary teamwork and human dignity—helping them develop confidence, competence and a strong professional identity before entering the workforce.

The partnership comes at a critical time. Texas faces a projected shortage of more than 57,000 registered nurses by 2036. Partnerships like this one help address the growing demand by increasing clinical placement opportunities and preparing more graduates to serve in communities where they’re needed most.

For the fall 2025 semester, TXST received 378 bachelor of science in nursing applicants—the highest number in program history. Approximately 128 students are expected to earn their nursing degrees in May 2026, which will be the largest graduating class since the St. David’s School of Nursing was founded.

“We are grateful to CHRISTUS for helping us create this partnership. It is allowing us to expand hands-on learning opportunities for our nursing students while directly contributing to the healthcare needs of our region,” Damphousse said. 

For CHRISTUS, the partnership ensures access to well-prepared graduates who are already familiar with the organization’s culture and standards of excellence—strengthening retention, reducing turnover and supporting high-quality patient care.

“By combining Texas State's renowned nursing curriculum with our first-hand training opportunities, we are preparing the next generation of nurses to meet the evolving needs of our community with skill, compassion and resilience,” Honeycutt said. 

“This partnership opens doors for innovative clinical rotations and mentorship programs that will not only benefit students but also enhance the quality of care that we provide.”

Together, TXST and CHRISTUS in San Marcos will also pursue joint research, innovation and quality improvement initiatives that enhance clinical education and patient outcomes. The partnership reinforces both institutions’ commitment to improving healthcare delivery and investing in the next generation of nurses.