Jodi Waddoups has been named the UONL 2025 Nurse Researcher of the Year, an honor recognizing nurse researchers whose work advances the health of Utah residents and strengthens nursing leadership. She was selected for her research on nurse wellbeing in home health and hospice organizations, a focus she identifies as central to her passion for empowering nurses. Waddoups learned of her selection after the UONL committee reviewed several nominees and voted. She was recognized at the Utah Hospital Association Award Banquet on September 18 and at the UONL Fall Conference on October 8. She was also invited to present her work at the UONL Conference on November 7.
Waddoups says the award is meaningful both personally and professionally and reinforces her commitment to advancing nurse wellbeing. She is collaborating with the Utah Action Coalition to promote resilience in home health and long term care settings, with plans to pursue funding that will support expanding these efforts into rural communities.
She credits RMCOEH for fostering her growth through its emphasis on research and recognition of individual accomplishments. Waddoups also expresses gratitude to the individuals who have supported her work, including Utah Action Coalition co leads Joan Gallegos and Teressa Garret, her DNP faculty mentor Chelsea Pike, and the leadership teams at Solstice Home Health and Hospice and First Choice Home Health and Hospice.
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