Taryn Edwards, MSN APRN NNP-BC
NANN President
As neonatal nurses, advanced practice providers, and other valued members of the neonatal care team, you are on the front lines of some of the most advanced and high-stakes care in modern healthcare. At the National Association of Neonatal Nurses (NANN), we are committed to ensuring you have the tools, education, and support to lead confidently in an increasingly digital world.
We are proud to share that NANN is embracing the future through significant investments in technology and digital enhancements. I hope you have had the opportunity to peruse the new NANN website and utilize the myNANN app (iPhone or Android). Coming at the beginning of August is a new Learning Management System (LMS). From expanding our online learning platform to streamlining access to evidence-based resources, we are designing a more agile, connected, and responsive membership experience. These updates will empower you to access the education and community you need, when and where you need it.
As we expand digitally, we remain deeply committed to the power of in-person connection and shared learning. I hope you will all join us at NANN’s 41st Educational Conference, taking place September 9–12, 2025, in the stunning setting of Palm Springs, CA. Set against warm desert skies, this event is designed for you—to share your expertise, amplify your voice, and inspire meaningful change in neonatal care.
Back by popular demand is the Case of the Year presentation in collaboration with the Vermont Oxford Network (VON). Engage in this interactive learning experience where you will be in friendly competition on diagnosing the patient! For our advanced practice colleagues, the full-day APRN Summit is back and focused on the future of the neonatal advanced practice role, in addition to hands-on cardiac NRP, coding, mentorship, pharmacology, HIE, and special interest groups (SIGs). Other main conference hot topics include: cardiac, environmental impact on the placenta and fetus, genetics, and edge of viability care. Let’s not forget our very popular escape room, with this year’s theme titled, Rock-a-Bye Baby: The Main Stage Mission, focusing on developmental care practices. Will you have the fastest time?
New attendee experiences this year include an interactive scavenger hunt, live trivia, and a networking session called “Get to NANN You.” Our favorite experience is NANN After Dark, and this year’s theme is NANNchella. So, pack your Coachella festival-themed attire and meet me on the dance floor. Don’t miss out on grabbing a selfie with one or three of our celebrity miniature beer burros. It’s guaranteed to be a night to remember!
Lastly, I want to emphasize the importance of attending a professional conference like NANN’s. It isn’t just a tradition that we organize year after year; it’s truly an extraordinary event. When you think about the overall experience, it’s easy to forget that it is not ordinary to be within an arm’s length of hundreds of members within your professional community. It is also not ordinary to attend networking events where attendees from all over the world can greet long-standing members and meet new ones. The real opportunity lies in knowing how to take advantage of these amazing opportunities and grow as a neonatal nurse. Plus, research shows that conference participation increases professional motivation, supports identity formation, enhances collaboration, and fosters deeper, sustained engagement in the field.
So, whether you are a first-time attendee or you are returning, this is more than just CE; it’s an investment in yourself, your career, and the future of neonatal nursing.
It’s your stage. It’s your voice. It’s your impact.
Warmly,
Taryn Edwards
