Breakthrough to Nursing

​ Committee

Innovating for Tomorrow: Empowering the Next Generation of Nurses

Courtney McClure Uche
​BTN Director
Georgia Gwinnett College
Lawrenceville, GA
Memos
Connect on Social Media

What is the Role of the
Breakthrough to Nursing Committee?

Breakthrough to Nursing® (BTN) is NSNA’s® project to increase the number and diversity of students choosing nursing as a career. The project was established because of NSNA’s® concern over the inadequacy of health care delivery to minority group members and the lack of minority group health care providers. The objectives of the project are to promote career opportunities in nursing, with a focus on substantially increasing the number of students from groups who traditionally have been underrepresented in nursing. The project has been supported by NSNA since 1965. Its effectiveness seems due, in part, to the peer relationship that can be established between nursing students and minority group elementary, middle and high school students. In addition, through the Foundation of the NSNA, scholarship support is available for diverse nursing students to increase the number of registered nurses from ethnic minorities in the profession. 

BTN also teaches nursing students to be culturally competent in their care of all patients.  Resolutions passed by the NSNA House of Delegates has expanded the Project to include the recruitment of students from all underrepresented populations. 
Hello NSNA Members!

Spring 2026 is officially HERE, and the Breakthrough to Nursing (BTN) Committee is energized and ready to get to work with YOU and for YOU! We are so excited to connect, collaborate, and grow together this semester.

Join us IN PERSON at the NSNA 74th Annual Convention
Houston, Texas, April 8–11, 2026

This convention is an incredible opportunity to connect with student nurses from across the country, share ideas, and celebrate the impact of Breakthrough to Nursing. I cannot wait to meet you and hope to see you there!
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The BTN Committee has worked hard to ensure the Breakthrough to Nursing Toolkit is easy to access for both current and future members. This toolkit is your go-to resource for planning, implementing, and strengthening your BTN projects.

Read full memo here.

BTN Bi-Monthly Winner


​January 2026
Wisconsin Student Nurses' Association 

My social media project focuses on telehealth, an innovative approach to delivering healthcare through technology. Telehealth encompasses three main types: synchronous, asynchronous, and remote patient monitoring. This project highlights how telehealth is transforming nursing practice by making healthcare more accessible to rural populations and individuals with mobility challenges, reducing the spread of infectious diseases like COVID-19, and providing patients with the comfort and convenience of receiving care from home. Additionally, the project emphasizes the impact of virtual nursing in the emergency department, based on recent research demonstrating that virtual nursing improves efficiency and quality of care. Findings showed shorter patient wait times, more complete nursing documentation, and fewer interruptions during admission assessments, illustrating how technology can support nurses in delivering safer, more effective care. The goal of this social media project is to educate nursing professionals and students about telehealth and inspire nurses to leverage technology to enhance patient outcomes, streamline workflows, and break down traditional barriers in healthcare delivery.       

For more about this project, BTN Project Bi-Monthly Winners 

BTN Resources
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