Board Update

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

With all that’s going on in the world right now, I find great comfort in knowing that neonatal nurses continue to reach out; share their knowledge and talents; and make a difference daily in the lives of their patients, families, and colleagues. We are being called upon to do more with less, stretch ourselves to be creative, and use our skills in new ways. We are resourceful and resilient and will weather this storm. Every day, I see heroes in my midst and am so proud of my profession. My hope for you is that you stay safe, take time to spend with those you love, offer grace to those not coping well, and remain hopeful in the face of uncertainty. Learn about NANN’s response to coronavirus disease and get updated information and resources on our website.

More than ever, we need to celebrate the contributions of nursing. It is the Year of the Nurse, and although that has now taken on new meaning, we hope you’re finding ways to celebrate in units all over the world and that you’re taking advantage of the toolkit on the NANN website. Recognize your colleagues with our nurse recognition graphic by tagging them and sharing it on social media, use our logo in your agendas and presentations, and visit often to learn about new NANN plans.

Last month, I had the pleasure of traveling to Lisbon, Portugal, to attend the Science & Soul Conference. While there, one of our former Emerging Leader fellows, Wendy Hawse, was presented with a best poster award, and I was thrilled to be there to cheer for her. Just a couple of years ago, Wendy applied for NANN’s Emerging Leader Fellowship program and now she’s on stage across the world being rewarded for the work she completed as part of the program–talk about positive outcomes!

NANN’s trip to Morocco, scheduled to happen in late March, has been postponed until February 2021. This event will focus on learning about healthcare in the country and sharing with our neonatal nursing counterparts there. We will re-open applications soon for those who may want to join us for this once in a lifetime experience.

Please continue to share your personal NANN membership experience with other nurses in your neonatal circles. Together, we can inspire unprecedented growth of our community in the spirit of the Year of the Nurse, allowing us to make a difference like never before. Please join me in referring new nurses to NANN and expanding the reach and power of this talented, vibrant organization. NANN makes recruitment easy and rewarding with our Member Referral Program and our Member Recruitment Toolkit. Remember, groups of new NANN members are eligible for our Group Membership Discount as well. Please reach out to your peers and share all that NANN has to offer today.

Thank you for the efforts you make each day, big and small, for the patients and families in your care, especially during these challenging times. It is truly my honor to work alongside you.

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