Iowa Online Nurse Residency Program

04/30/2026

Congratulations to Our Spring Blended Residency Graduates! 🎉

We’re proud to celebrate nurse residents who completed the 12‑month Iowa Online Nurse Residency Program (IONRP) – Blended Option from:

• Franciscan Health – Dyer & Munster
• Memorial Health System Marietta Memorial Hospital
• Mary Greeley Medical Center
• Presbyterian Healthcare Services
• UnityPoint Health - Quad Cities Muscatine

Through self-paced learning and meaningful mentorship, these nurses showed strong commitment to professional growth and excellence in practice. 👏 Thank you to the residency coordinators who supported them throughout the year!

✨ We’re also excited to welcome our newest IONRP partner, Methodist Jennie Edmundson Hospital in Council Bluffs, IA, launching their first cohort at the end of May. Welcome to the IONRP community!

Congratulations to all!

04/29/2026

IONRP Coordinator Jessica Ociepka represented the program at the 2026 in Orlando.

Read more about IONRP’s role as a Summit Ally Sponsor and national partner in nurse residency education.

Jessica Ociepka, MSN, RN-BC, Coordinator for the Iowa Online Nurse Residency Program, represented IONRP at the 2026 ANCC Professional Development & Practice Summit in Orlando, Florida. The Iowa Online Nurse Residency Program (IONRP) was proud to be represented at the American Nurses Credentialing

04/28/2026

What if competency was more than a checklist?

In her latest IONRP blog, Nicole Weathers, DNP, RN, NPD‑BC, reflects on how traditional competency models, often driven by fear, compliance, and the need for proof, can unintentionally undermine engagement. Drawing from her conversation with Donna Wright, she explores how shifting the way competency is validated can build safety, belonging, and professional esteem.

When nurses have a voice, choice, and ownership in competency, it stops being about checking boxes and starts shaping professional practice.

👉 Read the full blog:
https://nursing.uiowa.edu/ionrp/blog/04/01/26/competency

04/27/2026

We’re counting down to the National Rural Health Association’s 49th Annual Rural Health Conference! ☀️

Nicole Weathers is looking forward to attending this year’s conference and associated events—the largest gathering of rural health professionals in the country—May 18–22 in San Diego, CA.

✅Mark your calendar:
The 31st Rural Health Access Conference takes place May 18–19 and features groundbreaking and expanded programming focused on improving access to care in rural communities.

We’re also proud to share that the Iowa Online Nurse Residency Program (IONRP) is a Gold Partner of NRHA, supporting this important work.

04/27/2026

Congratulations to the April 2025 Nurse Residents on reaching this exciting milestone and successfully transitioning into practice. The Iowa Online Nurse Residency Program sincerely thanks Mary Greeley Medical Center for its strong partnership and continued commitment to supporting and developing new nurses. 🎉

🎉 Congratulations, April 2025 Nurse Residents! 🎉

A few weeks ago, our AMAZING April 2025 Nurse Residents completed their first-year Nurse Residency Program presentations, and we could not be more proud! 💙

Over the past year, these nurses have worked incredibly hard, grown in confidence and skill, and made a meaningful impact on countless patients. Their dedication, compassion, and commitment to excellence have not gone unnoticed, and their contributions to MGMC are truly valued.

Please join us in congratulating this outstanding group on their successful transition to practice. We can’t wait to see all that you continue to accomplish! 🌟

04/26/2026

The April episode of Beyond Nurse Residency, Season 3, Episode 4, is out now. Hosted by Nicole Weathers and presented by IONRP, this episode welcomes Donna Wright, MS, RN, NPD‑BC, from Creative Health Care Management - CHCM to discuss a more thoughtful approach to competency in nursing practice.

Competency is often treated as a box to check, but real growth does not work that way. Supporting nurses means recognizing that learning, adaptation, and confidence develop over time and through experience. Shifting from proving competency to nurturing it can help nurses truly thrive.

Listen to the full conversation with Donna Wright:
https://bit.ly/3QcieRx

04/24/2026

April Updates from the Iowa Online Nurse Residency Program

Our work continues to expand beyond residency as we support nurses and organizations through coaching through our academy, clinician wellbeing, preceptor development, and insights from the Beyond Nurse Residency Podcast.

Read the April newsletter to see how we are supporting nursing engagement and retention nationwide: https://conta.cc/4bXE5Ua

Email from Iowa Online Nurse Residency Program Iowa Online Nurse Residency Program IONRP Leadership at ANPD Aspire 2026 The Iowa Online Nurse Residency Program team recently exhibited at the 2026 ANPD

04/23/2026

Our residents mean the world to us. Their first year as practicing nurses is full of challenges, learning, and moments that shape who they become. We’re honored to walk beside them through that journey.

Our coordinators support them not only as educators but as trusted guides. They meet with online residents one-on-one, help them navigate tough situations, and remind them that they’re not alone. Their encouragement keeps our residents moving forward and staying excited about nursing.

For National Nurses Week 2026, we want to share the stories of residents who inspire their teams and make a difference every day. If you know someone who deserves to be celebrated, we would love to hear about them.

Nominations are open through April 30, 2026.
Submit here: https://bit.ly/4syhhkv

Thank you for helping us lift up the next generation of nurses. 💙

04/16/2026

Nurse Resident Spotlight: Jerrica Anderson

For Jerrica Anderson at ChildServe, the Iowa Online Nurse Residency Program provided more than education. Through in-person sessions, simulations, and conversations with fellow new nurses, Jerrica found reassurance, growth, and community.

Read Jerrica’s story and hear from other nurse residents on our website: https://bit.ly/3pmKnsk

04/15/2026

In this clip from the Beyond Nurse Residency Podcast, Donna Wright calls out a common approach to competency that many organizations rely on.

If we want better outcomes and stronger engagement, we may need to move beyond checking boxes and start leading with intention.

🎧 Listen to the full episode here: https://bit.ly/3QcieRx

04/14/2026

We’re excited to share that the Iowa Online Nurse Residency Program is featured in the April Johnson & Johnson Nursing Notes on Nursing newsletter!

The article highlights the power of connection for new nurses in rural hospitals.

Read the article👇

In many rural hospitals, new nurses may be the only graduate hired that year. The Iowa Online Nurse Residency Program connects them with peers across hospitals, creating the support network they need to build confidence and thrive in practice.