Podcast
Beyond Nurse Residency
Hosted by Nicole Weathers, DNP, RN, NPD-BC · EN
The Iowa Online Nurse Residency Program brings you the Beyond Nurse Residency Podcast. This interview series provides valuable resources for nurse leaders and educators interested in learning about onboarding, orientation, transition to practice, and ongoing role development of nurses. It is intended for all healthcare professionals supporting various aspects of nursing professional development. Each episode features an expert guest, providing listeners with valuable insights and guidance on relevant topics related to the professional role development of registered nurses.
If you're looking for more information about our program offerings, be sure to check out our website. Additionally, if you're interested in being a guest on the Beyond Nurse Residency Podcast, we invite you to fill out our guest request form. We're always excited to feature new perspectives and insights on the show!
12episodes
Episodes
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National Nurses Week 2026 - The Power of Nurses™
3w ago01:00:35Tap to summarizeIn our May episode of the Beyond Nurse Residency Podcast, we celebrate National Nurses Week (May 6–12) and the impact nurses make all month long. This year is especially meaningful as the American Nurses Association marks its 130th anniversary, highlighting the theme, The Power of Nurses™.Hear real stories from three nurses at different stages of their careers through the Iowa Online Nurse Residency Program. From building confidence in the first year to leading with resilience and reflecting on a decade of growth, these voices showcase the importance of support, teamwork, and lifelong learning.Listen and celebrate the lasting impact of nurses on patients, communities, and each other.GUESTS:Noelle Fjeld, RN Med/Surg Nurse, Spencer Hospital, Spencer, IowaNoelle Fjeld is a medical-surgical nurse at Spencer Hospital and a graduate of the Iowa Online Nurse Residency Program. She entered nursing as a second career after working as a travel agent and spending 15 years as a preschool teacher. Now 18 months into practice, Noelle is passionate about patient connection, teamwork, and continuous learning as she grows in her role.Michelle Gelner, BSN, RN Director of Cardiac Rehabilitation, Cass County Health, Atlantic, IowaMichelle Gelner is a registered nurse, military veteran, and graduate of the Iowa Online Nurse Residency Program with seven years of experience across clinical and leadership roles. She holds a degree in psychology from Luther College and served in the U.S. Army for eight years before entering nursing. Michelle began her career during the COVID-19 pandemic and has worked in OB, medical-surgical nursing, emergency care, and house supervision. She now serves as Director of Cardiac Rehabilitation at Cass County Health, where she focuses on resilience, communication, and patient advocacy.Kasey Greteman, RN, BSN Program Coordinator, QIDPKasey Greteman is a registered nurse, an Iowa Online Nurse Residency Program alum, and an experienced healthcare leader with more than a decade in nursing. Her background includes med/surg, emergency care, house supervision, and infection prevention. Kasey brings a strong focus on advocacy, evidence-based practice, and continuous improvement to her current role as program coordinator.Supporting nurses is our priority. Visit https://nursing.uiowa.edu/ionrp to explore our resources for new graduate nurses and beyond.
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Competency That Supports Nurses with Donna Wright
Apr 101:06:31Tap to summarizeWhen we talk about competency in nursing, it is often framed as something to complete or check off. But what if competency could truly support nurses, strengthen confidence, and build engagement over time?In this episode of Beyond Nurse Residency, host Nicole Weathers is joined by nationally recognized competency expert Donna Wright, MS, RN, NPD-BC. Drawing on decades of experience, Donna invites us to reconsider what competency really means in nursing practice and professional development.Together, they explore how traditional, task-focused approaches can create fear, frustration, and disengagement, especially for new nurses and high performers. Donna shares a more thoughtful, human-centered approach that emphasizes ownership, empowerment, accountability, and trust. The conversation highlights how organizations can move away from overwhelming checklists and toward systems that reflect real practice and support learning over time.This episode is especially helpful for nurse leaders, educators, and NPD practitioners looking for practical ways to simplify competency processes while fostering confidence and purpose across the nursing workforce.GUEST: Donna Wright, MS, RN, NPD-BC Donna Wright, MS, RN, NPD-BC, is a nurse and professional development specialist and consultant with Creative Health Care Management in Minneapolis, Minnesota. She holds degrees in Nursing, Family Sociology, and Adult Education, all from the University of Minnesota.Over her career, Donna has worked with healthcare organizations across the country and around the world to design meaningful, effective programs that support professional development and competency assessment across all departments. She is the author of The Ultimate Guide to Competency Assessment in Healthcare, which has been translated into Japanese and is used widely throughout Japan. She is also the author of The Competency Assessment Field Guide.Donna is a co-author of two national award–winning books, Relationship-Based Care: A Model for Transforming Practice and Advancing Relationship-Based Cultures.Her work has taken her across six of the seven continents, including rural Africa. Antarctica remains the only continent she has not yet worked on.Throughout her career, Donna has served in both staff and leadership roles and is well known for her energy, curiosity, and refreshing approach to education and learning. She is a member and past president of the Association for Nursing Professional Development and a recipient of both the “Promoting Excellence in Consultation” award and the Marlene Kramer Lifetime Achievement Award.Website Links: Creative Health Care Management | CHCM Competency CHCM LinkedIn | CHCM Facebook | CHCM InstagramArticles or Publications: Durkin, G. (2019). “Implementation and Evaluation of Wright’s Competency Model.” Journal for Nurses in Professional Development. Vol 35, no. 6, p 305-316.Wright, D. (2021). The Ultimate Guide to Competency Assessment in Healthcare. 4rd Edition. Minneapolis, MN: Creative Health Care Management.Wright, D. (2020). The Wright Model of Competency Assessment: 5-part video Series. Minneapolis, MN: Creative Health Care Management.Wright, D. (2015). Competency Assessment Field Guide. A Real World Guide for Implementation and Application. Minneapolis, MN: Creative Health Care Management.Supporting nurses is our priority. Visit https://nursing.uiowa.edu/ionrp to explore our resources for new graduate nurses and beyond.
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Building Healthy Work Environments For Nurses And Teams
Mar 100:42:54Tap to summarizeIn this episode of the Beyond Nurse Residency Podcast, host Nicole Weathers sits down with Rebekah Marsh, BSN, RN, CCRN, President of the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses, to break down what truly makes a healthy work environment in nursing. Together, they explore AACN’s evidence-based Healthy Work Environment Standards, why they matter now more than ever, and how they directly influence nurse engagement, retention, satisfaction, and patient outcomes.Rebekah shares practical strategies for getting started, meaningful insights from national AACN data, and her personal perspective on implementing culture change at the unit and system level. Whether you're a leader, educator, or new graduate nurse, this episode offers actionable steps—and inspiring vision—for building stronger, more collaborative, more supportive teams.About our Guest:Rebekah Marsh, BSN, RN, CCRN,President of the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses https://www.aacn.org/about-aacn/board/rebekah-marshhttps://www.aacn.org/aacn-themehttps://www.aacn.org/nursing-excellence/healthy-work-environmentsLinkedIn ProfileSelected Publications:https://www.aacn.org/blog/three-reasons-nurse-leaders-should-prioritize-healthy-work-environmentSupporting nurses is our priority. Visit https://nursing.uiowa.edu/ionrp to explore our resources for new graduate nurses and beyond.
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Building Culture Through Infrastructure
Feb 100:49:54Tap to summarizeWalk into any unit, and you can feel it—some teams come alive with connection, trust, and shared purpose, while others struggle under the weight of burnout, silos, or a culture that never quite clicked. In this episode, nurse executive Dr. Dan Lose joins us to break down why engagement isn’t about “getting people to care more,” but about designing systems, roles, and environments that make engagement possible. Dr. Lose helps us look beneath the surface to identify the core ingredients of a healthy work environment, especially for new nurses entering the profession during one of the most challenging eras in healthcare. We talk practical strategies—how leaders can free up time for real relationships by shifting administrative work off nurse managers, how roles like clinical practice leaders strengthen onboarding and ongoing support, and how intentional processes (like welcome checklists, QR‑code feedback, and consistent huddles) turn good intentions into reliable daily practice. We explore why engagement and retention require more than fair pay—they require psychological safety, teamwork norms, clear expectations, role clarity, and a culture that values both learning and belonging. Dr. Lose also shares how interview experiences signal culture long before a nurse is hired, why new grads need ongoing check‑ins beyond residency classrooms, and how leaders can shape unit culture through small, consistent behaviors grounded in respect for colleagues, the profession, and patients. We also take on some of the hardest realities new nurses face: night shift transitions, schedule misalignment, limited food or wellness options, and the tension leaders feel when budgets are tight. Dr. Lose offers solutions ranging from better support structures to protecting time for professional development, all while emphasizing that the strongest teams thrive when leaders carve out sacred time for relationships. If you’re a leader, educator, or preceptor supporting new nurses, you’ll find practical, actionable takeaways you can bring back to your unit today. Guest Bio: Dan Lose, DNP, RN, CNML, is a nurse executive and educator known for his innovative, collaborative, and people‑centered approach to leadership. He serves as the Acute Adult Director at UnityPoint Health–St. Luke’s in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, where he focuses on building healthy work environments and developing strong clinical teams. With more than a decade of progressive nursing leadership experience, Dr. Lose is recognized for translating complex workforce and operational challenges into practical solutions. An adjunct professor and mentor, he is committed to developing future nurse leaders and advancing the practice of nursing at local and national levels. Connect with Dr. Lose: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dlose/ Selected Publications: Lose, D., Lisk, J., & Hunger, S. (2025). Transforming nurse manager roles: Success through strategic clinical nurse leader integration. Nurse Leader, 23(3), 249–255. Lose, D. & Joseph, M.L. (2023). Young nurse leader program: Inspiring the next generation for formal nursing leadership roles. Nurse Leader, 21(6), 658–663. Boothby, J., Woline, C., Lose, D., McDaniel, J., & Nicholson, A. (2023). Unit partners: Creative role to recruit and retain students while delivering quality care. Nurse Leader, 21(6), 652–657. Supporting nurses is our priority. Visit https://nursing.uiowa.edu/ionrp to explore our resources for new graduate nurses and beyond.
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Nurse Engagement
Jan 100:52:37Tap to summarizeEngagement isn’t a score on a dashboard; it’s how a shift feels when the work is heavy, and the support is real. We sit down with Dr. Katie Boston-Leary, Senior VP of Equity and Engagement at the American Nurses Enterprise, to unpack why retention lags when organizations chase surveys instead of fixing the work itself. From red-yellow-green mood checks that trigger real-time support to linking nurse well-being with patient “happiness,” we explore practical systems that help nurses show up ready and leave with energy to return.We take on complexity creep—EHRs that promised simplicity but added clicks, protocols that squeeze critical thinking, and floating barriers that multiply friction across units. Katie names workload as the clearest love language leaders can speak: reduce physical strain, ease cognitive load, and design psychologically safe teams. We share strategies to personalize nurse residency through appreciative inquiry, train and evaluate preceptors for coaching excellence, and ensure the unit culture mirrors the care offered in the classroom. Because a strong residency can’t overcome a toxic environment, the day-to-day must change.You’ll hear actionable ideas that boost nurse engagement and patient outcomes: real-time readiness signals, unit problem-solving boards, transparent internal mobility windows that keep talent in-house, and human-centered design that prioritizes patient time over screen time. If you’re a nurse leader, educator, or preceptor looking to make retention a byproduct of better work, this conversation offers a clear path forward. If it resonates, follow the show, share with a colleague, and leave a quick review telling us one change you’ll try first.GUEST: Dr. Katie Boston-Leary is the Senior Vice President of Equity and Engagement at the American Nurses Association, addressing DEIAB and workforce challenges within the profession. Katie is an Adjunct Professor at the University of Maryland School of Nursing and the School of Nursing at Case Western Reserve University. She sits on numerous boards and national committees in nursing and healthcare and serves on the editorial advisory boards of Nursing Management, Nursing 2025, OADN, and ACHE. Katie leads the National Commission to Address Racism in Nursing Forum and organized ANA’s inaugural Equity Summit in Washington, DC. Katie is a 2024 ICN Global Nurse Leaders Institute Scholar and was previously identified by Health Leaders Media as “One of Five Chief Nursing Officers Changing Healthcare”. She also won the ICABA TD Bank 2023 Woman of Impact award, the 2024 Spectrum Circle Award for Innovation in Health, and the 2025 National Black Nurses Association (NBNA) President’s Trailblazer Award. She was inducted as a Distinguished Fellow at the Academy of Diversity Leaders in Nursing with the NBNA, is a Fellow with the American Organization of Nursing Leadership (AONL), the American Academy of Nursing (AAN), and the Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery with the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland. She was recently named as an honored listee on Marquis’ Who’s Who in America. Katie authored two chapters in The Sage Encyclopedia of Multicultural Counseling, Social Justice, and Advocacy, the first encyclopedia focused on racism and Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging. Katie was also featured in the award-winning documentary film, Everybody’s Work, funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. She recently co-authored a Sigma-published book titled Harmony by Design, Navigating Work and Life in Healthcare. LinkedIn American Nurses EnterpriseSupporting nurses is our priority. Visit https://nursing.uiowa.edu/ionrp to explore our resources for new graduate nurses and beyond.
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Reflecting on a Year of Growth: Insights from the IONRP Team
Dec 100:46:57Tap to summarizeIn this special year-end episode of the Beyond Nurse Residency Podcast, host Nicole Weathers joins the Iowa Online Nurse Residency Program team—Jessica Ociepka, Amanda Bruscher, and Jill Gillespie—for a candid conversation about season highlights, lessons learned, and favorite moments. Together, they revisit impactful discussions from Season 2, including navigating the emotional transition cycle for new graduates, addressing burnout, and fostering a sense of belonging. The team shares practical strategies for nurse leaders, emphasizes the importance of preceptor development, and explores why well-being must be a system-level priority. Whether you’ve been following along all season or are tuning in for the first time, this episode is your guide to the most insightful conversations from Season 2—and a perfect starting point for discovering which episodes to queue up next. Supporting nurses is our priority. Visit https://nursing.uiowa.edu/ionrp to explore our resources for new graduate nurses and beyond.
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Simulation in Motion – Iowa: Bringing High-Fidelity Training to Rural Communities
Nov 100:55:28Tap to summarizeIn this episode of the Beyond Nurse Residency Podcast, host Nicole Weathers sits down with Dr. Jacinda Bunch and Dr. Cormac O’Sullivan to explore the innovative work of Simulation in Motion – Iowa (SIM-IA). Learn how mobile simulation units are transforming clinical education in rural hospitals and EMS services across the state, and how a new collaboration with the Iowa Online Nurse Residency Program is helping new graduate nurses build confidence and competence in high-risk, low-volume scenarios. From OB hemorrhages to pediatric emergencies, this episode highlights the power of simulation to improve outcomes, foster teamwork, and ensure equitable care—no matter where nurses practice. SIM-IA Website • SIM-IA FacebookGUESTS: Jacinda Bunch, PhD, RN, SANE-A, NREMTLinkedIn Profile • UI College of Nursing Profile • ArticleJacinda Bunch, PhD, RN, SANE-A, NREMT, is a Clinical Assistant Professor at the University of Iowa College of Nursing and co-senior advisor for the SIM-IA program. With 30+ years of nursing experience, she earned her EMT certification in 2022 to better support first responders. She is president of the International Society for Rapid Response Systems, a sexual assault nurse examiner with JCSART, and a first responder and service director with the Oxford Fire Department. Her research focuses on patient safety and rural healthcare, and she teaches simulation-based and leadership courses across nursing programs. Dr. Bunch received the collegiate teaching award in 2021 and co-led the SIM-IA mobile simulation grant to enhance rural EMS training statewide. Cormac O'Sullivan, PhD, ARNP, CRNA, FAANALinkedIn Profile • UI College of Nursing Profile • ArticleDr. Cormac O’Sullivan, Professor (Clinical) at the University of Iowa College of Nursing, has been educating nurse anesthesia students since 1996. As Director of the Anesthesia Nursing Program since 2009, he led its transformation into one of the first Doctor of Nursing Practice anesthesia programs in the country. A passionate educator and innovator, he received the Collegiate Teaching Award in 2018 and was named Anesthesia Program Director of the Year by the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists in 2019. He developed the first crisis simulation workshops for the AANA annual meeting and currently serves as Senior Advisor for Simulation in Motion – Iowa (SIM-IA), a statewide initiative delivering high-impact simulation training to rural emergency and critical access providers. Dr. O’Sullivan is a Fellow of the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists and an active contributor to national nurse anesthesia leadership. He is a past president of the NBCRNA, serves on the editorial board of the AANA Journal, reviews programs for the COA, and participates in multiple committees and task forces for the AANA Foundation. Supporting nurses is our priority. Visit https://nursing.uiowa.edu/ionrp to explore our resources for new graduate nurses and beyond.
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Belonging & Inclusion in the Nursing Workplace
Oct 101:09:45Tap to summarizeWhat does it mean for nurses to truly belong—and why does it matter? In this powerful episode, leaders from the Disruptor Diaries podcast explore how belonging and inclusion impact retention, safety, and team culture. Through personal stories and practical strategies, they highlight the harm of exclusion, the role of language, and the importance of psychological safety. Listeners will gain actionable insights to foster belonging and build healthier, more inclusive workplaces where nurses thrive.GUESTS: Jillian Russell, MSN, RN, NPDA-BC®Co-Founder J&J ElevatED Consulting LLC, Nursing Professional Development SpecialistJillian Russell has been a registered nurse for 16 years. She obtained her MSN in 2012 and has experienced a variety of nursing roles—bedside clinician, research nurse, manager, NPD practitioner, and independent contractor. Jill is currently serving as Vanderbilt University Medical Center's and Hospice and Palliative Nurses Association's Accredited Provider Program Director, Primary Nurse Planner for a community hospital in Middleburg Heights, Ohio, is the co-founder of J&J ElevatED Consulting LLC, and co-hosts the Disruptor Diaries: Healthcare Education Innovation Unleashed podcast. She has been certified in nursing professional development (NPD) since 2015 and achieved her advanced NPD certification in 2023. She also serves as an Appraiser for ANCC's NCPD Accreditation Program, is a peer reviewer for the Journal for Nurses in Professional Development (JNPD), and is an engaged member of the Association for Nursing Professional Development (ANPD) and her local ANPD-Pentagon affiliate, and was a founding member of ANA-Ohio and is a recent graduate of their Policy Influencer Bootcamp. Jill is passionate about supporting the future of nursing through innovative and creative solutions that transform the work we do as nurses. LinkedIn ProfileJennifer (Jenn) Bodine, DNP, FNP-C, NPDA-BC®, CENNPD Specialist with NPD CollaborativeJenn Bodine is a contributing member of the NPD Collaborative. Jenn has over 19 years of experience in nursing and over 12 years of nursing education in various roles and settings. She has an advanced certification in Nursing Professional Development, a DNP from California State University, and is a Fuld Institute for Evidence-Based Practice DNP Postdoctoral Fellow. She also has a certificate in Artificial Intelligence: Business Strategies and Application from UC Berkley.Rachel Kelter, MSN, RN, NPD-BC, CPCNursing Professional Development SpecialistRachel Kelter is a master’s prepared registered nurse with 16 years of healthcare, leadership, and education experience. She currently serves as a senior education project manager for Indiana University Health’s Center for Continuing Professional Development, a jointly accredited provider unit. Rachel is board-certified in nursing professional development and is a qualified personality lingo presenter. She is also an entrepreneur, certified professional coach, and co-host of the Disruptor Diaries podcast. Rachel is passionate about and recognized for her presentations and publications on human skills, personality styles, education design, and human design.Website • LinkedIn Profile • IG @therachelkelter • JNPD ArticleSupporting nurses is our priority. Visit https://nursing.uiowa.edu/ionrp to explore our resources for new graduate nurses and beyond.
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Nursing Professional Development (NPD) Week 2025
Sep 101:07:57Tap to summarizeWhat makes nurse residency programs truly effective? In this episode, we celebrate Nursing Professional Development Week by highlighting how two partner organizations—Mary Greeley Medical Center and UnityPoint Health Trinity—have customized the Iowa Online Nurse Residency Program to better support new nurses.Paige Vance shares how guest speakers and targeted skills stations boosted retention from 75% to 90%. Brian Bedoun, a former residency "dropout" turned coordinator, emphasizes interactive, flexible sessions and real-time feedback to meet nurses’ evolving needs.Both showcase how tailored support and professional experience projects empower nurses, reduce burnout, and drive lasting change. Tune in for practical insights on customizing residency programs to maximize impact.SPECIAL GUESTS:Paige Vance, BSN, RN, NPD-BC, CMSRNNursing Professional Development PractitionerMary Greeley Medical Center, Ames, IAPaige Vance is a Nursing Professional Development Practitioner at Mary Greeley Medical Center in Ames, Iowa. She began her nursing career in telemetry, caring for patients with complex cardiac and medical needs, where she developed a strong foundation in clinical excellence, critical thinking, and patient-centered care. Driven by a passion for lifelong learning, professional growth, and development, Paige now focuses on supporting nurses—especially new graduates—as they transition into practice. She coordinates educational programs, including the Nurse Residency Program and Preceptor Development Program, with the goal of ensuring nurses have the best experience possible, grow into their full potential, and consistently strive for excellence in safe, evidence-based, and compassionate care.LinkedInBrian Bedoun, RNClinical Professional Development SpecialistUnityPoint Health - TrinityBrian Bedoun is a passionate and driven nurse educator with experience across various roles in both inpatient and community healthcare settings. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and an Associate of Applied Science in Nursing from Black Hawk College. Throughout his career, he has consistently sought opportunities to better support the communities he serves and the colleagues he works alongside. In his role as a Residency Program Coordinator, Brian has found it incredibly rewarding to work with new graduate nurses, witnessing their growth as they expand their skillsets and develop confidence in their clinical competence.Supporting nurses is our priority. Visit https://nursing.uiowa.edu/ionrp to explore our resources for new graduate nurses and beyond.
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Nurturing the Next Generation: Why Nurse Well-Being Is Critical
Aug 100:50:59Tap to summarizeOver half of new graduate nurses face distress, and 91% report burnout—putting both their well-being and patient safety at risk. In this episode, Dr. Cory Church of Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center shares groundbreaking research on the challenges new nurses face, from financial stress to unsafe staffing levels.Dr. Church highlights how leadership, peer support, and organizational commitment to well-being can make the difference between burnout and resilience. He offers practical strategies, such as daily check-ins, peer connection opportunities, and rethinking sick time as "well-being time."Whether you're a nurse leader, educator, or clinician, this conversation offers actionable insights to help new nurses thrive—and ensure safer, more stable healthcare environments for all.GUEST: Cory D. Church, PhD, RN, NPD-BCAssociate Professor at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center School of NursingDr. Cory Church is an Associate Professor at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center School of Nursing with a background in nursing education leadership, professional development, and workforce research. His work centers on the well-being and retention of newly licensed nurses, with a focus on how organizational systems influence the transition to practice. He has published widely on nursing workforce trends and well-being, serves on national committees focused on advancing transition to practice, and holds board certification in Nursing Professional Development.https://www.nursingoutlook.org/article/S0029-6554(25)00058-2/abstractSupporting nurses is our priority. Visit https://nursing.uiowa.edu/ionrp to explore our resources for new graduate nurses and beyond.
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