Nursing Professional Development (NPD) Week 2025

What makes nurse residency programs truly effective? In this episode, we celebrate Nursing Professional Development Week by highlighting how two partner organizations—Mary Greeley Medical Center and UnityPoint Health Trinity—have customized the Iowa Online Nurse Residency Program to better support new nurses.

Paige Vance shares how guest speakers and targeted skills stations boosted retention from 75% to 90%. Brian Bedoun, a former residency "dropout" turned coordinator, emphasizes interactive, flexible sessions and real-time feedback to meet nurses’ evolving needs.

Both showcase how tailored support and professional experience projects empower nurses, reduce burnout, and drive lasting change. Tune in for practical insights on customizing residency programs to maximize impact.

SPECIAL GUESTS:

Paige Vance, BSN, RN, NPD-BC, CMSRN
Nursing Professional Development Practitioner
Mary Greeley Medical Center, Ames, IA

Paige Vance is a Nursing Professional Development Practitioner at Mary Greeley Medical Center in Ames, Iowa. She began her nursing career in telemetry, caring for patients with complex cardiac and medical needs, where she developed a strong foundation in clinical excellence, critical thinking, and patient-centered care. Driven by a passion for lifelong learning, professional growth, and development, Paige now focuses on supporting nurses—especially new graduates—as they transition into practice. She coordinates educational programs, including the Nurse Residency Program and Preceptor Development Program, with the goal of ensuring nurses have the best experience possible, grow into their full potential, and consistently strive for excellence in safe, evidence-based, and compassionate care.

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Brian Bedoun, RN
Clinical Professional Development Specialist
UnityPoint Health - Trinity

Brian Bedoun is a passionate and driven nurse educator with experience across various roles in both inpatient and community healthcare settings. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and an Associate of Applied Science in Nursing from Black Hawk College. Throughout his career, he has consistently sought opportunities to better support the communities he serves and the colleagues he works alongside. In his role as a Residency Program Coordinator, Brian has found it incredibly rewarding to work with new graduate nurses, witnessing their growth as they expand their skillsets and develop confidence in their clinical competence.

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