The Iowa Online Nurse Residency Program (IONRP) was proud to be represented at the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) Professional Development & Practice (PDP) Summit, held April 14–17, 2026, in Orlando, Florida, by Jessica Ociepka, MSN, RN-BC, Coordinator for IONRP.
The PDP Summit marked ANCC’s first newly integrated event, bringing together leaders and stakeholders from the Nursing Continuing Professional Development (NCPD) Accreditation™, Practice Transition Accreditation Program (PTAP®), Advanced Practice Provider Fellowship Accreditation Program (APPFA®), and Joint Accreditation for Interprofessional Continuing Education™ communities. The conference focused on advancing and transforming the future of nursing education, accreditation, and professional practice.
IONRP participated in the Summit as a Summit Ally Sponsor, hosting a designated sponsor table where Ociepka connected one-on-one with attendees and shared how IONRP supports evidence-based nurse transition-to-practice initiatives for healthcare organizations across the country.
“It is such a valuable experience to be among this group of nursing educators, professional development specialists, and leaders,” said Ociepka. “Not only does it provide an opportunity to share what IONRP is doing to meet the needs of new graduate nurses, but it also allows us to learn from what other organizations are doing across the country.”
Throughout the conference, attendees engaged in inspiring keynote sessions, immersive plenaries grounded in real-world application, and curated networking opportunities that fostered meaningful dialogue among nursing professional development practitioners, accreditation leaders, and program administrators.
Ociepka emphasized the significance of accreditation as a driving force for program quality and outcomes.
“Accreditation is more than a designation—it is a commitment to quality, consistency, and outcomes,” she said. “Through the IONRP, we support nurse residency programs in building structures that not only meet standards but truly prepare new graduate nurses for long-term success in practice.”
IONRP’s presence as both an attendee and sponsor underscores the program’s continued commitment to advancing high-quality nurse residency education and contributing to national conversations on learning, accreditation, and professional practice. Participation in the PDP Summit provided valuable opportunities to share best practices, strengthen partnerships, and bring new insights back to IONRP’s work supporting nurses and healthcare organizations nationwide.