Iowa Online Nurse Residency Program

01/19/2026

MLK Day: A Call to Serve

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. dedicated his life to expanding opportunity and strengthening communities—values that continue to guide our work in developing and supporting the next generation of nurses.

On this day of reflection and service, we celebrate the nurse residents and educators who are shaping healthier, stronger communities nationwide. Your leadership and compassion move Dr. King’s vision forward in powerful ways.

01/18/2026

🎉 Season 3 is here!

We’re starting the new year strong with a conversation featuring Dr. Katie Boston‑Leary — and this moment from the episode really stuck with us:

“Engagement isn’t transactional. It has to flow both ways.”

Such a powerful reminder for anyone leading or supporting nurses.
Check out this clip from our premiere episode and listen to the full conversation here: https://bit.ly/4quvCxj

01/15/2026

Nicole Weathers shares an important reminder about what truly helps nurses thrive in their roles. Her new blog explores the difference between simply staying and being genuinely supported and engaged.

Read the full blog: https://bit.ly/49qZJiw

01/14/2026

Is Your Organization Residency Ready?

Struggling with your nurse residency program? The IONRP Nurse Residency Academy can help! Our academy offers coaching and guidance to prepare your work environment for a successful and sustainable nurse residency program.

Our coaching package includes:

📞 4 coaching calls over 3-4 months with IONRP Experts.
📊 A Gap Analysis to identify your current professional development activities.
📌 Prioritization of 1-3 improvement areas with a SOAR Analysis.
📝 A customized Action Plan for success.
✅ 1-2 follow-up coaching calls to track progress.

Get your organization RESIDENCY READY to support new graduate nurses! 🌟

For more information, visit our website or contact us today!
https://nursing.uiowa.edu/ionrp/academy

01/13/2026

Engagement isn’t a one-time metric—it’s dynamic and shaped by every shift. In the Season 3 premiere, Dr. Katie Boston-Leary shares why real-time support matters more than survey scores.

🎧 Listen now: https://bit.ly/4quvCxj

01/12/2026

Resident Spotlight: Marianna’s Journey in Nurse Residency

Hear from Marianna, a September 2024 cohort resident of the Iowa Online Nurse Residency Program from Ridgeview Hospitals and Clinics Medical Center, as she shares how the program helped her adapt to night shifts, build confidence, and improve patient care in the ER.

Listen to the full interview: https://bit.ly/3pmKnsk

01/11/2026

Now Available: Free Preceptor Training for Iowa Nurses!

We’re excited to launch the new and improved Supporting Nurses: Training for Preceptors, Mentors, and Clinical Coaches 2025 — now available at no cost to nurses in Iowa!

In collaboration with the Midwest Clinical Instruction Regional Network (MCIRN), this updated training offers enhanced content, tools, and support for those guiding the next generation of nurses.

Bonus Opportunity!
Graduates of the Supporting Nurses course can apply for the MCIRN Advanced Preceptor Fellowship — a prestigious program offering:

• 29 continuing education hours
• A stipend
• Advanced training for experienced preceptors

👉 Learn more and enroll here: https://nursing.uiowa.edu/IONRP/MCIRNCollaboration

01/08/2026

📢 January Newsletter is Here!
Start 2026 with the latest from the Iowa Online Nurse Residency Program (IONRP):

✅ Monthly blog by Director Nicole Weathers, paired with Season 3, Episode 1 of the Beyond Nurse Residency Podcast—both focused on nurse engagement
🌟 Resident Spotlight + details on our first online cohort starting in February
📚 Free Preceptor Training for Iowa nurses in collaboration with MCIRN
✈️ We’re kicking off conference season at the NRHA Rural Health Policy Institute in Washington, D.C., this February!

Beyond Nurse Residency: A successful transition to practice takes more than classes. That’s why we go beyond nurse residency—connecting nurses, preceptors, leaders, and organizations with tools, support, and practical resources to thrive. Explore our offerings:

✔️ IONRP Academy & Coaching
✔️ Preceptor Training Course
✔️ Clinician Wellbeing Course

👉 Read the full newsletter: https://conta.cc/4qBN42X

01/08/2026

01/07/2026

https://www.buzzsprout.com/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsibWVzc2FnZSI6Ik1qSTBNREk0TlE9PSIsImV4cCI6bnVsbCwicHVyIjoicG9kY2FzdCJ9fQ--50bbecee425238e0c839b91efb26abf6d247a9bccadb97fdaea0d7d4460aae0c/playback?slide=summary

It's time to revist the moments that defined your year in podcasting.

01/07/2026

Retention vs. Engagement: Are We Asking the Right Questions?

Retention tells us who stayed—but does it tell us how they’re doing? In her latest blog, Rooted in Residency, Growing Through Engagement, Nicole Weathers, DNP, RN, NPD-BC, explores why engagement matters more than retention and how residency programs lay the foundation for thriving nurses.

✅ Read the full blog: https://bit.ly/49qZJiw

🎧 Listen to the podcast conversation with Dr. Katie Boston-Leary: https://bit.ly/4quvCxj

Let’s move beyond “who stayed” and start asking, “How are they growing?”

01/06/2026

Start 2026 Strong!
Our next online Nurse Residency Program cohort starts in February—don’t miss out!
Deadline to enroll: January 30, 2026.

What makes our program unique?
✅ Microlearning & expert podcasts
✅ Reflection activities & monthly challenges
✅ Peer discussions for real-world tips
✅ Ongoing coaching and support

Learn more and sign up on our website. Contact us with any questions—we’re here to help! https://bit.ly/46gjCpd