The Board has worked strategically over the last year to assess the strengths and opportunities related to access to NANN’s resources with thoughtful consideration to advancing the foundation of our organization as it relates to diversity, equity, and inclusion. This journey we embarked on included a reflection on who can join NANN as a member and changing the name of NANNP to welcome the inclusion of all advanced practice neonatal nurses. To advance this area of opportunity, the NANN Board and NANNP Council recommend two major changes requiring amendments to our bylaws.
Amendment I
The first amendment expands the membership by offering an Associate membership category. Associate membership will be available to non-nurse healthcare professionals who care for neonatal patients and their families. Establishing an associate membership category will provide our multidisciplinary colleagues access to NANN’s superior educational resources and the ability to network. While permitted to join our association, associate members will have partial rights and privileges. They will not be permitted to serve on committees and volunteer task forces and will not be eligible to vote or hold an elected office or position.
The mission and vision of NANN remain the same. Our focus continues to be the voice of neonatal nursing, transforming the care of neonatal patients and leading the future of neonatal nursing. We will not create programming specific to non-nursing disciplines. We will provide access to our existing programs and resources to our professional colleagues because we don’t work in silos. Our intent is to improve patient outcomes and support collaborative care.
Amendment II
The second bylaw amendment changes the name of the National Association of Neonatal Nurse Practitioners (NANNP) to the National Association of Neonatal Nurses – Advanced Practice (NANN-AP). Informed by surveys from earlier this year and feedback shared during recent Fireside Chats, the NANNP Council voted to change the name to align with NANN’s inclusion goal and recognize the interests of our non-nurse practitioner advanced practice colleagues.
Additional Amendments
We are proposing minor grammatical changes throughout the bylaws document to reflect current practices and nomenclature more accurately. The bylaws will now include all membership categories and member privileges.
Member Town Hall Opportunity
Our ultimate goal is to continue fulfilling your needs while maintaining an inclusive membership representing our multidisciplinary practice community to move our organization forward. We want to address any questions or concerns you may have about these recommendations. A town hall is scheduled for members on November 20 at 10 am Central Standard Time to provide comments, share concerns, and ask questions about the upcoming bylaw amendments. You may also submit feedback by completing our online submission form.
Register for the member town hall
NANN’s voting membership must approve the proposed bylaw amendments to make them binding. As such, voting members will receive an email following the town hall on November 20 to affirm the proposed amendments. Members will have until Monday, December 4, to cast their vote.