Board Update

Joan Rikli, MBA MSN RN CPNP-PC NE-BC
President of NANN

Happy New Year! NANN is enjoying that wonderful time of year when so many possibilities lie ahead and 2019 offers no shortage of meaningful projects and opportunities. This year is NANN’s 35th anniversary and we’ll be celebrating all year long. I know I can speak for the Board of Directors, NANNP Council, and NANN Staff when I say that it is our honor and privilege to lead the work of NANN’s mission: To be the professional voice that shapes neonatal nursing through excellence in practice, education, research, and professional development.

In November, I wrote to you about NANN’s future and specifically, our strategic plan. I told you about our five strategic domains: Education and Professional Development, Setting the Standard of Care, Advocacy and Awareness, Leadership, and Community. Today, I’m excited to share more details about some of the planned efforts within the Leadership domain.

Last fall, NANN launched our Emerging Leaders Fellowship (ELF) in partnership with Synova Associates at the NANN conference in Anaheim. A cohort of 15 emerging neonatal nurse leaders is participating in an expert-delivered 8-month program, including leadership assessments and education on critical leadership topics. NANN has made the strategic decision to better prepare our members to thrive as leaders within the NICU and our association. We will also be rolling out virtual leadership learning opportunities to help all NANN members with their professional and volunteer leadership pathways.

NANN is committed to celebrating diversity and one way we’re doing that is through volunteer opportunities that allow us to engage and develop a wide variety of talent and ideas. MyNANN now has a Volunteer Profile feature that allows members to share unique professional interests and then connect you with similar volunteer opportunities. I encourage you to visit MyNANN regularly, keep your profile up to date, and volunteer for those opportunities that speak to your heart and expertise.

Finally, in order to ensure the success of NANN governing bodies, 2019 will include board development education for the association’s leaders. Working with governance experts, we’ll grow and fine tune our skill sets to better deliver on NANN’s mission, vision, and purpose.

Please allow me to close by wishing you, the members of NANN, a very happy 35th anniversary! (Or should I say NANNiversary?) It’s you who make our association special, meaningful, and impactful in the lives of nurses, patients, and their families. Thank you for your loyalty, your involvement, and all you do for our neonatal nursing profession and community.

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