NANNP Corner
APRN Activities a Hit at Conference
Lee Shirland, MS APRN NNP-BC
As the holidays approach, I would like to take this opportunity to thank the NANNP membership for your continued support. As the only national organization for the neonatal nurse practitioner (NNP) and neonatal clinical nurse specialist, we set the standards for advanced practice education and practice. Without the continued support of our membership, it would not be possible for NANNP to partner with the many national organizations that we currently have a seat at the table with, such as the American Academy of Pediatrics. NANNP continues to keep its membership and member needs at the center of all initiatives and collaborations with other national organizations that may impact our practice.
During the NANNP Business Meeting at the NANN 2017 Annual Conference in Rhode Island, the NANNP Council shared a detailed report on initiatives from this past year and hosted an open mic question-and-answer session. Attendance at this year’s APRN Day doubled from the previous year as attendees had the opportunity to hear about ethical issues involved with caring for an infant with Trisomy 18 and the family of that infant. Attendees enjoyed lively group discussion and debate about what ethical treatment options may be offered to families and what could not be offered. It was very interesting to hear other professional viewpoints and learn how care differs in neonatal intensive care units across the country. Attendees were entertained and enlightened by a talk on Fantastic Failures in Neonatology. We were challenged to think about why a 0.2 IT ratio on a complete blood count means a left shift. Where did this come from? Is this evidenced based? Is a shifted complete blood count in the face of a negative blood culture sufficient evidence for treatment with a week of antibiotics for suspected congenital sepsis with the harm we now know antibiotics can cause? Other hot topics and fantastic failures discussed were patent ductus arteiosus treatment and alternative treatment to endotracheal intubation. The more we learn in neonatology, the less it seems we know or are really sure about. This was a fascinating discussion that all enjoyed and learned from.
The NNP faculty track enjoyed lively discussion and debate as they delved into quality indicators and best practices in distance accessible NNP programs. When you consider all of the conferences offered for the advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) and NNP faculty, can you afford to miss this conference, where your input may impact changes to national educational and practice standards for the neonatal APRN?
I would like to thank Tracey Wasserburger for leading the planning for this successful conference and APRN Summit. The council currently is working on next year’s program and it promises to be as exciting and engaging as this year’s was. If you were unable to attend this year, make plans now to attend next year in Anaheim, CA, on October 17–20, 2018. Attend a conference where your input matters and you are re-energized with the information you need to maintain your evidenced-based practice.
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