The Texas Peer Assistance Program for Nurses (TPAPN) presented its fourth‑quarter and annual results to the Board of Nursing on Oct. 23, reporting measurable increases in referrals and outreach activities.

Program director Britney Majeski said the year’s referral total reached 629 — surpassing a goal of 600 referrals — though quarterly referrals dipped to 125 in the fourth quarter (the program noted July was a low month). The TPAPN active caseload decreased slightly in the fourth quarter from 617 to 559, but staff said referrals have started to climb again.

Majeski highlighted outreach growth: the program reported direct outreach to 6,595 nurses this year, exceeding a 10% year‑over‑year target and surpassing the program’s outreach goal of 5,561. TPAPN staff said they increased social‑media presence, launched a quarterly peer‑support post and published their first podcast episode to dispel myths and explain program services.

For the coming year TPAPN set strategic goals to raise the rate at which referrals convert into signed participation agreements by 10% and to monitor how referred individuals learned about the program to fine‑tune outreach. Majeski said TPAPN plans a virtual employer workshop series to engage chief nursing officers, human-resources and legal staff on how to support referred nurses and employer best practices for safe, supportive re‑entry.

Why it matters: TPAPN provides monitoring, support and treatment referrals for nurses with substance use or behavioral‑health disorders; converting referrals into signed agreements (participation in monitoring) is a key metric for early intervention and public safety.

What’s next: TPAPN staff will focus outreach, employer workshops and tracking referral sources; the program will report progress to the board in subsequent quarterly updates.