Nurse residency programs are crucial for new nurses to transition smoothly into the profession. However, designing and implementing an effective program can be a daunting task. To ensure that your program is successful and meets the needs of your new nurses, it is essential to have a well-planned approach that includes continuous improvement. In this blog post, we will discuss five steps that you can take to effectively plan and continuously improve your nurse residency program. These steps have been tested and proven by the IONRP team, who have years of experience in developing resources and curriculum for new graduate nurses. Whether you are starting a new program or looking to improve an existing one, these steps will provide you with a solid foundation for success.

The Iowa Online Nurse Residency Program (IONRP) believes that clinical skills are best taught within the organization, and focuses on essential soft skills training instead, including effective communication, critical thinking, delegation, and professionalism. The IONRP works with sites to customize the content and incorporate their own facility needs, ensuring new graduates become well-rounded nurses.

Physical and verbal abuse against healthcare workers is increasing in the United States, with more than two nursing personnel being assaulted every hour. Workplace violence is four times more common in healthcare settings than in private industry. Though nurses in certain departments may be at higher risk, all areas of patient care must raise awareness and prevent violence against healthcare workers. Healthcare facilities are responsible for ensuring staff, patient, and visitor safety and security.

Every year in September, nursing professional development (NPD) practitioners around the world celebrate Nursing Professional Development Week. Especially in critical times, the education and support NPD practitioners provide to frontline workers is crucial.

Given the current healthcare landscape in which we don't just have a workforce shortage but an experience shortage, nurses must be able to assess situations, make sense of the information collected, decide on the best course of action, take action, and evaluate the outcomes of those actions independently. This critical thinking is the most vital competency for nursing professionals today and demands nurse leaders' and nurse educators' attention, and thankfully, that is exactly what is happening.

New nurse graduates have a plethora of options when it comes to their first position. As a nurse leader, you must consider how your organization can stand out. Offering an innovative approach to the transition to the practice period and communicating how your organization's support differs is critical. Here are five things you can share with potential new hires to help your organization stand out.

This month the IONRP team wanted to ensure we did our part to recognize our nurse colleagues. To do so, we are running a month-long campaign to recognize the great work nurses are doing through the Iowa Online Nurse Residency Program. Throughout May, we will highlight our nominees on our social media pages.

While healthy work environments, residency programs, and trained preceptors are essential in preventing burnout and turnover, developing the intrapersonal skills of hope, self-efficacy, resiliency, and optimism is equally important. Reinforcing why IONRP has continued building content in these areas and integrating that content into our newly redesigned curriculum.

Nicole leads a Q&A with our Program Coordinator, Jess Ociepka, about our popular Preceptor Training program, Supporting Nurses: Training for Preceptors, Mentors, & Coaches. This format allows Jess to share her background and thoughts about supporting nurses. Plus, read more on how it just got easier to pay with a credit card and enroll in the course today!