Competency That Supports Nurses with Donna Wright

International Nursing with Dr. Jose Arnold Tariga

As healthcare organizations across the U.S. continue to navigate workforce challenges, internationally educated nurses are playing an increasingly vital role. But recruitment is only the beginning—true success lies in how we support these nurses as they transition, integrate, and thrive. In this episode of the Beyond Nurse Residency Podcast, host Dr. Nicole Weathers sits down with Dr. Jose Arnold Tariga, an internationally educated nurse, clinical educator, and founder of Bridge & Beyond Advisory. Drawing on his own journey from the Philippines to the Middle East and ultimately to the United States, Dr. Tariga shares powerful insights into the realities of global nursing mobility and what it truly takes to build a supportive, sustainable workforce. Together, they explore: * The global and U.S. nursing workforce landscape—and why international recruitment is not a quick fix * Common misconceptions about internationally educated nurses and their competencies * What international nurses need most in their first 90 days, including psychological safety, structured support, and meaningful context * Practical strategies to strengthen transition-to-practice programs and support long-term retention * The importance of shifting from a recruitment mindset to one focused on integration and belonging This conversation is a must-listen for nurse leaders, educators, and organizations looking to do more than fill vacancies—to build inclusive environments where all nurses can grow and succeed. GUEST: Jose Arnold Tariga PhD, MSN, RN, NPD-BC, NE-BC, CPHQ, FNYAM, FFNMRCSI Dr. Jose Arnold Tariga (Dr. A) is an internationally educated nurse, nursing professional development leader, and author with over 17 years of experience across clinical and academic settings in the Philippines, the United Arab Emirates, and the United States. He earned a post-doctoral certificate in Medical Teaching from Harvard Medical School, where his capstone project on transition-to-practice won first place for its innovative approach. He holds multiple professional certifications, including Nurse Educator, Nursing Professional Development Specialist, Nurse Executive, and Healthcare Quality Specialist. Dr. Tariga has presented at major national and international forums, including the Association for Nursing Professional Development, Sigma Theta Tau International, and the International Council of Nurses, and has contributed to peer-reviewed publications. His honors include Healthcare Professional of the Year (Filipino Times Awards UAE, 2019), Asia’s Distinguished Nurse Educator (Asia’s Pinnacle Awards, 2023), and the ANPD Partner for Practice Transitions Award (2025). He is a Fellow of the Faculty of Nursing at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland and a Fellow of the New York Academy of Medicine. In 2025, he was named a Top 10 Finalist for the Aster Guardians Global Nursing Award among 100,000 applicants worldwide. Dr. Tariga is the author of Building the BRIDGE, a personal and practical guide to navigating professional transitions in nursing. He serves on the Executive Board of the National Consortium of Academic Nurse Educators and the Philippine Nurses Association of America–New England and engages a global audience of 40,000+ followers on LinkedIn. [https://www.linkedin.com/in/jose-arnold-tariga-phd-msn-rn-npd-bc-ne-bc-cphq-ffnmrcsi-fnyam-76b750a1] Career Journeys: Preparing the Future Nursing Workforce [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0fCpaQps00g] Supporting nurses is our priority. Visit https://nursing.uiowa.edu/ionrp [https://nursing.uiowa.edu/ionrp] to explore our resources for new graduate nurses and beyond.

National Nurses Week 2026 - The Power of Nurses™

In our May episode of the Beyond Nurse Residency Podcast, we celebrate National Nurses Week (May 6–12) and the impact nurses make all month long. This year is especially meaningful as the American Nurses Association marks its 130th anniversary [https://pages.nursingworld.org/nursesweek26?_gl=1*1xm56j0*_gcl_aw*R0NMLjE3NzczMTMyNjIuQ2owS0NRandrcnpQQmhDcUFSSXNBSk40NjBtMVYzRlRrVVRVZ2txRzhyQ3JRY3k2bkZFQy1RaWZZQmRpUlpVcW5kNEVON2JWMTdTVy1ZQWFBaUk0RUFMd193Y0I.*_gcl_au*Nzk4NzQ5NzM3LjE3NzIwNDA4Mzc.&_ga=2.223639771.1592710895.1777564533-1666725422.1763661131&_gac=1.28113358.1777313260.Cj0KCQjwkrzPBhCqARIsAJN460m1V3FTkUTUgkqG8rCrQcy6nFEC-QifYBdiRZUqnd4EN7bV17SW-YAaAiI4EALw_wcB], highlighting the theme, The Power of Nurses™. Hear real stories from three nurses at different stages of their careers through the Iowa Online Nurse Residency Program. From building confidence in the first year to leading with resilience and reflecting on a decade of growth, these voices showcase the importance of support, teamwork, and lifelong learning. Listen and celebrate the lasting impact of nurses on patients, communities, and each other. GUESTS: Noelle Fjeld, RN Med/Surg Nurse, Spencer Hospital, Spencer, Iowa Noelle Fjeld is a medical-surgical nurse at Spencer Hospital and a graduate of the Iowa Online Nurse Residency Program. She entered nursing as a second career after working as a travel agent and spending 15 years as a preschool teacher. Now 18 months into practice, Noelle is passionate about patient connection, teamwork, and continuous learning as she grows in her role. Michelle Gelner, BSN, RN Director of Cardiac Rehabilitation, Cass County Health, Atlantic, Iowa Michelle Gelner is a registered nurse, military veteran, and graduate of the Iowa Online Nurse Residency Program with seven years of experience across clinical and leadership roles. She holds a degree in psychology from Luther College and served in the U.S. Army for eight years before entering nursing. Michelle began her career during the COVID-19 pandemic and has worked in OB, medical-surgical nursing, emergency care, and house supervision. She now serves as Director of Cardiac Rehabilitation at Cass County Health, where she focuses on resilience, communication, and patient advocacy. Kasey Greteman, RN, BSN Program Coordinator, QIDP Kasey Greteman is a registered nurse, an Iowa Online Nurse Residency Program alum, and an experienced healthcare leader with more than a decade in nursing. Her background includes med/surg, emergency care, house supervision, and infection prevention. Kasey brings a strong focus on advocacy, evidence-based practice, and continuous improvement to her current role as program coordinator. Supporting nurses is our priority. Visit https://nursing.uiowa.edu/ionrp [https://nursing.uiowa.edu/ionrp] to explore our resources for new graduate nurses and beyond.

Competency That Supports Nurses with Donna Wright

When we talk about competency in nursing, it is often framed as something to complete or check off. But what if competency could truly support nurses, strengthen confidence, and build engagement over time? In this episode of Beyond Nurse Residency, host Nicole Weathers is joined by nationally recognized competency expert Donna Wright, MS, RN, NPD-BC. Drawing on decades of experience, Donna invites us to reconsider what competency really means in nursing practice and professional development. Together, they explore how traditional, task-focused approaches can create fear, frustration, and disengagement, especially for new nurses and high performers. Donna shares a more thoughtful, human-centered approach that emphasizes ownership, empowerment, accountability, and trust. The conversation highlights how organizations can move away from overwhelming checklists and toward systems that reflect real practice and support learning over time. This episode is especially helpful for nurse leaders, educators, and NPD practitioners looking for practical ways to simplify competency processes while fostering confidence and purpose across the nursing workforce. GUEST: Donna Wright, MS, RN, NPD-BC Donna Wright, MS, RN, NPD-BC, is a nurse and professional development specialist and consultant with Creative Health Care Management in Minneapolis, Minnesota. She holds degrees in Nursing, Family Sociology, and Adult Education, all from the University of Minnesota. Over her career, Donna has worked with healthcare organizations across the country and around the world to design meaningful, effective programs that support professional development and competency assessment across all departments. She is the author of The Ultimate Guide to Competency Assessment in Healthcare, which has been translated into Japanese and is used widely throughout Japan. She is also the author of The Competency Assessment Field Guide. Donna is a co-author of two national award–winning books, Relationship-Based Care: A Model for Transforming Practice and Advancing Relationship-Based Cultures. Her work has taken her across six of the seven continents, including rural Africa. Antarctica remains the only continent she has not yet worked on. Throughout her career, Donna has served in both staff and leadership roles and is well known for her energy, curiosity, and refreshing approach to education and learning. She is a member and past president of the Association for Nursing Professional Development and a recipient of both the “Promoting Excellence in Consultation” award and the Marlene Kramer Lifetime Achievement Award. Website Links:  Creative Health Care Management [https://chcm.com/] | CHCM Competency [https://chcm.com/solutions/competency/]   CHCM LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/creative-health-care-management-chcm/?viewAsMember=true] | CHCM Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/creativehcm] | CHCM Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/chcm_consulting/] Articles or Publications: Durkin, G. (2019). “Implementation and Evaluation of Wright’s Competency Model.” Journal for Nurses in Professional Development. Vol 35, no. 6, p 305-316. Wright, D. (2021). The Ultimate Guide to Competency Assessment in Healthcare. 4rd Edition. Minneapolis, MN: Creative Health Care Management. Wright, D. (2020). The Wright Model of Competency Assessment: 5-part video Series. Minneapolis, MN: Creative Health Care Management. Wright, D. (2015). Competency Assessment Field Guide. A Real World Guide for Implementation and Application. Minneapolis, MN: Creative Health Care Management. Supporting nurses is our priority. Visit https://nursing.uiowa.edu/ionrp [https://nursing.uiowa.edu/ionrp] to explore our resources for new graduate nurses and beyond.

Building Healthy Work Environments For Nurses And Teams

In this episode of the Beyond Nurse Residency Podcast, host Nicole Weathers sits down with Rebekah Marsh, BSN, RN, CCRN, President of the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses, to break down what truly makes a healthy work environment in nursing. Together, they explore AACN’s evidence-based Healthy Work Environment Standards, why they matter now more than ever, and how they directly influence nurse engagement, retention, satisfaction, and patient outcomes. Rebekah shares practical strategies for getting started, meaningful insights from national AACN data, and her personal perspective on implementing culture change at the unit and system level. Whether you're a leader, educator, or new graduate nurse, this episode offers actionable steps—and inspiring vision—for building stronger, more collaborative, more supportive teams. About our Guest: Rebekah Marsh, BSN, RN, CCRN, President of the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses https://www.aacn.org/about-aacn/board/rebekah-marsh [https://www.aacn.org/about-aacn/board/rebekah-marsh] https://www.aacn.org/aacn-theme [https://www.aacn.org/aacn-theme] https://www.aacn.org/nursing-excellence/healthy-work-environments [https://www.aacn.org/nursing-excellence/healthy-work-environments] LinkedIn Profile [https://www.linkedin.com/in/rebekah-marsh-bsn-rn-ccrn-411bb9212/] Selected Publications: https://www.aacn.org/blog/three-reasons-nurse-leaders-should-prioritize-healthy-work-environment [https://www.aacn.org/blog/three-reasons-nurse-leaders-should-prioritize-healthy-work-environment] Supporting nurses is our priority. Visit https://nursing.uiowa.edu/ionrp [https://nursing.uiowa.edu/ionrp] to explore our resources for new graduate nurses and beyond.

Building Culture Through Infrastructure

Walk into any unit, and you can feel it—some teams come alive with connection, trust, and shared purpose, while others struggle under the weight of burnout, silos, or a culture that never quite clicked. In this episode, nurse executive Dr. Dan Lose joins us to break down why engagement isn’t about “getting people to care more,” but about designing systems, roles, and environments that make engagement possible.  Dr. Lose helps us look beneath the surface to identify the core ingredients of a healthy work environment, especially for new nurses entering the profession during one of the most challenging eras in healthcare. We talk practical strategies—how leaders can free up time for real relationships by shifting administrative work off nurse managers, how roles like clinical practice leaders strengthen onboarding and ongoing support, and how intentional processes (like welcome checklists, QR‑code feedback, and consistent huddles) turn good intentions into reliable daily practice.  We explore why engagement and retention require more than fair pay—they require psychological safety, teamwork norms, clear expectations, role clarity, and a culture that values both learning and belonging. Dr. Lose also shares how interview experiences signal culture long before a nurse is hired, why new grads need ongoing check‑ins beyond residency classrooms, and how leaders can shape unit culture through small, consistent behaviors grounded in respect for colleagues, the profession, and patients.  We also take on some of the hardest realities new nurses face: night shift transitions, schedule misalignment, limited food or wellness options, and the tension leaders feel when budgets are tight. Dr. Lose offers solutions ranging from better support structures to protecting time for professional development, all while emphasizing that the strongest teams thrive when leaders carve out sacred time for relationships.  If you’re a leader, educator, or preceptor supporting new nurses, you’ll find practical, actionable takeaways you can bring back to your unit today.  Guest Bio:  Dan Lose, DNP, RN, CNML, is a nurse executive and educator known for his innovative, collaborative, and people‑centered approach to leadership. He serves as the Acute Adult Director at UnityPoint Health–St. Luke’s in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, where he focuses on building healthy work environments and developing strong clinical teams.  With more than a decade of progressive nursing leadership experience, Dr. Lose is recognized for translating complex workforce and operational challenges into practical solutions. An adjunct professor and mentor, he is committed to developing future nurse leaders and advancing the practice of nursing at local and national levels.  Connect with Dr. Lose: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dlose/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/dlose/]  Selected Publications: Lose, D., Lisk, J., & Hunger, S. (2025). Transforming nurse manager roles: Success through strategic clinical nurse leader integration. Nurse Leader, 23(3), 249–255. Lose, D. & Joseph, M.L. (2023). Young nurse leader program: Inspiring the next generation for formal nursing leadership roles. Nurse Leader, 21(6), 658–663. Boothby, J., Woline, C., Lose, D., McDaniel, J., & Nicholson, A. (2023). Unit partners: Creative role to recruit and retain students while delivering quality care. Nurse Leader, 21(6), 652–657.  Supporting nurses is our priority. Visit https://nursing.uiowa.edu/ionrp [https://nursing.uiowa.edu/ionrp] to explore our resources for new graduate nurses and beyond.