Kathy Thomas, MSN, RN
Texas Board of Nursing
Katherine Thomas is the Executive Director for the Texas Board of Nursing (BON), a position she has held since November,1995. Prior to her appointment to the ED position, Thomas served the Board as Director of Nursing Practice, November 1994 - 1995, as Nursing Consultant for Advanced Practice from 1990 - 1994, and as Education Consultant from 1989-1990. Prior to joining the BON, Thomas taught nursing as an Instructor and Assistant Professor at the University of Texas at San Antonio, baccalaureate and graduate degree programs, and practiced for 10 years as a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner. Her educational preparation includes a BSN from the University of Virginia; a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (PNP) Certificate, US Army, Fitzsimons Army Medical Center, Denver, CO and a Master’s Degree in Nursing from the University of Kansas. Thomas is the Nurse Licensure Compact Administrator for Texas and served as a member of the Executive Committee of the Compact Administrators, and on the Compliance Committee. She served as the Chair of the Health Professions Council, a council of agencies who regulate health care professionals in Texas, for 10 years. Thomas served on several Advanced Nursing Practice committees of the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN), chairing the APRN Advisory Committee from 1995-2007. She was a member of the Joint Dialogue Group that developed the APRN Consensus Model: Licensure, Accreditation, Certification and Education. She served on the NCSBN Board of Directors as Director at Large, Area III Director, President Elect and President. She has been active in the NCSBN for the past 28 years and has received the top two awards from this organization: the R. Louise McManus Award (August 2002) and the Meritorious Service (August 1999). She is a member of Sigma Theta Tau, Epsilon Theta Chapter and is a fellow in the American Academy of Nursing.