In 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.

In 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 Facebook

GUESTS: Jacinda Bunch, PhD, RN, SANE-A, NREMT
LinkedIn Profile • UI College of Nursing Profile • Article

Jacinda 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, FAANA
LinkedIn Profile • UI College of Nursing Profile • Article

Dr. 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.

What 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 Specialist
Jillian 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 Profile

Jennifer (Jenn) Bodine, DNP, FNP-C, NPDA-BC®, CEN
NPD Specialist with NPD Collaborative
Jenn 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, CPC
Nursing Professional Development Specialist
Rachel 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 Article

Supporting nurses is our priority. Visit https://nursing.uiowa.edu/ionrp to explore our resources for new graduate nurses and beyond.