Taryn Edwards, MSN APRN NNP-BC
NANN President
A Warm Fall Greeting from Your NANN Board of Directors!
What an incredible season it’s been for our NANN community! We were thrilled to welcome nearly 800 neonatal nurses and professionals to our 41st Annual Conference in beautiful Palm Springs, CA. Seeing so many familiar faces and meeting new ones from across the globe (including attendees from as far away as Sweden!) truly reminded us of the power of connection and the lasting impact of our 2025 NANN Delegation to Sweden.
NANN continues to make progress to ensure that education is accessible to all. We understand that it may be difficult to get away and join us in person, so we continue to offer exclusive on-demand sessions. Online registration will remain open for the on-demand conference until November 20, 2025, at 11:59 PM CST. Attendees will have access and the ability to claim CE through December 11, 2025. A heartfelt thank you to Adrienne Isaacs, our Annual Conference Committee, and the NANN staff for their creativity, dedication, and tireless work in making this year’s conference such a meaningful and fun experience.
Whether you joined us virtually or in person this year, we can’t wait to see you next year in West Palm Beach, FL, from September 15-18, 2026! Mark your calendars for another inspiring, energizing gathering of neonatal professionals. The call for abstracts is already open and will close on January 5, 2026. We’d love to see your work featured next year.
As we look ahead, NANN remains deeply committed to nurturing the next generation of neonatal nurse leaders. Our partnership with Synova Associates continues through the Emerging Leader Fellowship, a five-month virtual program designed to help nurse leaders thrive in today’s healthcare environment. If you want to deepen your leadership skills and have a quality improvement project in mind, consider applying to the fellowship. The 2026 Emerging Leader Fellowship application is open until November 17, 2025, and the program begins on February 18, 2026.
We’re also excited about our upcoming 2026 Delegation to Spain, taking place February 1–6, 2026, with an optional cultural extension to Barcelona through February 10. Delegates will explore vital topics such as reducing infant mortality, trauma-informed and family-centered care, and innovative models of neonatal intensive care nursing. All of NANN’s delegations leave delegates with stronger international connections, a broader perspective on neonatal nursing care and leadership, and innovative ideas that can transform neonatal care in our own hospitals. If you’ve ever dreamed of representing NANN abroad, don’t miss the December 1, 2025, application deadline!
At the beginning of October, NANN launched a revitalized version of the Developmental Care Specialist Designation (DCSD). The updated program is designed to recognize and elevate the expertise of neonatal professionals providing holistic, individualized care. As we know, developmental care is the cornerstone of neonatal nursing. So, if you’re looking to advance your practice and make an even greater impact, this is a wonderful opportunity to highlight your expertise.
And there’s more on the horizon! The updated Infant-Directed Oral Feeding Guideline is coming soon. This comprehensive, evidence-based resource will support safe, developmentally appropriate oral feeding practices for premature and critically ill infants. Be sure to watch your inbox and NANN’s social media channels for the official release.
From all of us on the Board of Directors, thank you for the passion, commitment, and care you bring to the neonatal community every single day. Wishing you a joyful and restorative holiday season filled with warmth, gratitude, and connection.
