Designing for Belonging: Building Connection, Confidence, and Retention in Nursing

What helps nurses stay? Dr. Jihane Frangieh of the Johns Hopkins School of Nursing joins us to explore how belonging and social connectedness influence engagement, confidence, psychological safety, and retention. From nurse residency programs and mentorship to shared governance and leadership strategies, this conversation offers practical ideas for creating workplaces where nurses feel valued, supported, and connected.Guest: Dr. Jihane FrangiehAssistant Professor and Director of the MSN Healthcare Organizational Programs at Johns HopkinsDr. Jihane Frangieh brings more than 20 years of nursing experience, including a clinical background in neonatal nursing, to her work as an educator, scholar, and nurse leader. Her scholarship focuses on nursing leadership, healthy work environments, workforce well-being, quality and safety, and the conditions that help nurses feel seen, supported, and connected. Dr. Frangieh is the lead author of a 2024 Nursing Outlook article on belonging and social connectedness in nursing, and her writing has also addressed self-care, connection, and belonging as essential to nurse well-being and patient care. She currently serves as President of Sigma’s Nu Beta at-Large Chapter and is passionate about mentoring nurses and cultivating leadership practices that foster belonging across education and practice settings.LinkedIn ProfileFrangieh, J., Hughes, V., Edwards-Capello, A., Humphrey, K. G., Lammey, C., & Lucas, L. (2024). Fostering belonging and social connectedness in nursing: Evidence-based strategies: A discussion paper for nurse students, faculty, leaders, and clinical nurses. Nursing outlook, 72(4), 102174. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.outlook.2024.102174Frangieh, J., Sarver, L. C., & Hughes, V. (2024). Caring: The heart of online nursing education- An integrative review. Journal of professional nursing: official journal of the American Association of Colleges of Nursing, 52, 40–49. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.profnurs.2024.03.008Frangieh, J., Chow, S., Rodney, T., Monk, J. J., Lucas, L. S., & Hughes, R. V. (2025). Kindness beyond care: an integrative review of kindness in the nursing profession. Contemporary Nurse, 61(1), 77–95. https://doi.org/10.1080/10376178.2024.2426693Supporting nurses is our priority. Visit https://nursing.uiowa.edu/ionrp  to explore our resources for new graduate nurses and beyond.