State-level stakeholders across Iowa formed a task force to tackle the challenge of providing evidence-based nurse residency programming in a state heavily populated by rural healthcare organizations. Led by Lori Forneris MS, RN, the Chief Clinical Officer at an Iowa critical access hospital, the goal was to bring the vision of Dr. Rita Frantz Kelting, the late Dean & Professor of the University of Iowa College of Nursing, to fruition by creating a turn-key program adaptable to all sizes and types of healthcare organizations. 

Thirteen online modules were available through the University of Iowa College of Nursing. An Online model was developed for rural organizations with few new graduates and limited resources. In contrast, a Blended model was created for organizations with higher volumes of new graduates and resources to sustain an in-house program. 

We quickly recognized the need for additional guidance and support for the All Online and Blended options to assist organizational leaders in implementing and operationalizing the program. To this end, we created a knowledge base to share available resources and guidance. In addition, we began providing a start-up consultation for Blended sites to help secure stakeholder buy-in, train site coordinators, and ensure successful implementation. 

With the help of PhD candidate Katie Knox, standardized reporting was created, allowing the IONRP to provide individual facilities with the data and outcomes collected from their program participants. 

While the role of the nurse preceptor was recognized as an integral component in the success of the new graduate from the early days of the task force development, it wasn't until additional grant funding was secured that the IONRP had the opportunity to develop a preceptor/mentor training program, "Supporting Nurses: Training for Preceptors, Mentors, and Coaches."  

The COVID-19 pandemic brought increased attention to nurse wellbeing, leading program leaders to partner with the Resiliency Solution to further augment the program with content focused on developing clinician wellbeing. In addition, there was a need to support long-term care nurses' needs better. Additional content was created using grant funds, and a long-term care cohort was piloted. 

Responding to feedback and the changing landscape of online learning, the IONRP team redesigned the online content with a mobile-first, microlearning approach. Site coordinator education and resources were reorganized into the programs' Content Hub and SharePoint sites for easier navigation. In addition, the IONRP Insider Email was launched to provide monthly education and resources to site coordinators implementing IONRP programs and courses.  

Reviewing program data revealed that many organizations relied too heavily on nurse residency program curricula to solve organizational retention issues. The IONRP Academy was launched to provide coaching and guidance to prepare work environments for sustainable nurse residency programs, addressing gaps beyond the residency program curriculum that affect new graduate transitions. In addition, the Beyond Nurse Residency Podcast was introduced as an educational series featuring expert interviews on transitioning new graduate nurses into practice while highlighting important topics and challenges that can also impact the transition to practice experience and retention of the nursing workforce. Finally, the Clinician Wellbeing Course was created to offer site coordinators, preceptors, mentors, and new graduate co-workers the same wellbeing curriculum as new graduates, available anytime for any healthcare provider.