Coaching for Quality in Texas Forensic Nursing Programs
The Center of Excellence in Forensic Nursing at Texas A&M Health, in collaboration with the Sexual Assault Survivors' Task Force under the Texas Governor’s Office, has launched Coaching for Quality, a program aimed at improving sexual assault care across Texas.
The Coaching for Quality team is composed of registered nurses with expertise in forensic nursing and healthcare quality. They partner with local programs to develop tailored, evidence-based action plans specific to each site.
Key outcomes include:
- 55% decrease in staff turnover
- 6% increase in completed exams
- 7.5% decrease in patient transfers for SANE exams
- Education provided to nursing schools, medical schools and ER residents
- 16% increase in correct triage levels

In other words, our goal is to transform forensic nursing programs by:
Improving
The quality of care provided to all survivors of sexual assault—ensuring compassionate, timely, and trauma-informed support statewide.
Promoting
Individualized, evidence-based action plans that reflect the unique needs and capacities of each local forensic program.
Coaching
Through a dyad model: one experienced forensic nurse and one healthcare quality nurse collaborating with teams to build sustainable, high-quality services.
Mentoring
Forensic program leaders to confidently manage operations, advocate for resources, and lead long-term program development.
Contributors
Thank you to the following forensic nurses for contributing to the repository:
- Cindy Burnette
- Andrea Cressy
- Angela Dillahunty
- Cynthia Garcia
- Stacey Henley
- Niki Johnson
- Deb Kleypas
- Nellie Loewen
- Beth Maeker
- Letty Sprinkle
Contact
For more information or to inquire about becoming a site, contact us at beth.willhite@tamu.edu.