Association News

Support Your Team with NANN Institutional Membership 

Invest in the growth and success of your team with NANN Institutional Membership! This workforce solution provides system-level access to education, professional development, and engagement tools designed specifically for neonatal nurses. 

Whether you’re supporting a group as small as 25 or as large as 500, institutional membership offers a scalable approach to workforce development and retention.

Learn more about what institutional membership in NANN could look like for your team. 

Updated Position Statement: Palliative Care for the Fetus, Newborn, and Infant

Palliative care requires clinical expertise, ethical decision-making, and compassionate communication across every stage of care. As the professional voice of neonatal nursing, NANN provides guidance that helps nurses navigate complex situations and advocate for infants and families. 

NANN’s updated Palliative Care for the Fetus, Newborn, and Infant Position Statement reflects the evolving landscape of neonatal palliative care and recognizes neonatal nurses as leaders, educators, advocates, and care coordinators. 

Download the updated position statement

2027 Emerging Leaders Fellowship (ELF) Applications Opening Soon

Maximize your leadership potential with the ELF Program! In partnership with Synova Associates, we’re bringing back our virtual 5-month program focused on personal and professional growth through targeted skill-building sessions.  

Get ready to unleash your leadership potential, create an open, meaningful work environment, thrive and flourish through discovering your best self, and more through this unique opportunity. Applications open on August 10, so bookmark the ELF page and get ready to grow your leadership skills!

New From the Hill to the NICU – Language Access Is Lifesaving: Why Neonatal Nurses Must Champion Equitable Communication in the NICU

Every family deserves to feel informed, included, and confident in their baby’s care, but for families who prefer a language other than English, communication barriers can make it harder to navigate their NICU journey. Read the latest From the Hill to the NICU to learn why language access is critical to safe, family-centered care, and what neonatal nurses can do to help ensure every family receives the support they need.

Connect a Student with NANN Membership 

NANN gives nursing students a head start in neonatal care while they’re still in school, giving them access to current research, mentorship, and conversations happening in NICUs across the country. 

Students can explore the specialty, build professional connections, and start learning what neonatal nursing really looks like beyond the classroom—all at a discounted student rate. Many nurses tell us this early exposure helped shape their career path and gave them confidence as they moved into practice. 

Share our one‑page student membership flyer with nursing students and help them get connected to NANN! 

NANN Strategic Plan 2026-2029 

NANN’s 2026–2029 Strategic Plan has been approved! 
 
Over the next several years, it will guide how NANN focuses our time, resources, and advocacy so we can better support NANN members across every stage of their careers. 
 
Explore the plan and see where we’re headed

Introducing Our Newly Appointed Board and Council Members  

Congratulations to our newly appointed NANN Board and NANN-AP Council members! 

Board Members 

  1. Secretary/Treasurer 
    Meghan Luh, MSN APNP NNP-BC NE-BC CLC 
    Institutional Affiliations:
    Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin 
    Aurora Medical Center Summit 
  1. Director-at-Large  
    Tracey Bell, DNP APRN NNP-BC 
    Institutional Affiliations:
    Weatherby Locums 
    Magee Women’s Hospital 
    University of Pittsburgh School of Nursing 
    Emory University School of Medicine 
  1. Director-at-Large  
    Heather Stephens, DNP APRN RNC-NIC ACCNS-N 
    Institutional Affiliations:
    Hershey Medical Center 
  1. Staff Nurse Director-at-Large  
    Cody Bartrug, MA BSN RN RNC-NIC 
    Institutional Affiliations:
    UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital 

Council Members 

  1. Member-at-Large 
    Cassandra Palasiewicz, DNP APRN NNP-BC C-NNIC  
    Institutional Affiliations:
    University of Iowa Children’s Hospital 
  1. Member-at-Large 
    Jennifer Fries, MSN NNP-BC C-ELBW C-NNIC
    Institutional Affiliations: 
    UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital  
  1. Member-at-Large 
    Michael Litrenta, MSN NNP-BC RN BSN 
    Institutional Affiliations:
    St. Vincent Hospital 
  1. Member-at-Large 
    Nicole Olicker, DNP APRN NNP-BC 
    Institutional Affiliations: 
    Akron Children’s Hospital 
    Rainbow Babies and Children’s Hospital 
    Nationwide Children’s Hospital 
    John’s Hopkins School of Nursing, Doctor of Nursing Practice Program 

NANN thrives because of volunteers like you! An additional call for volunteers will open following NANN’s Annual Conference in September. Interested in serving in a leadership role? Learn more about volunteering with NANN!

Nominate a NANN Member for Recognition

We’re shining a spotlight on NANN members who are making a meaningful impact in neonatal nursing, and we need your help celebrating them! 

Do you know a member who: 

  • Has achieved something noteworthy, like publishing research, leading advocacy efforts, or contributing to their community? 
  • Is active in ways that elevate the profession, whether through social engagement or mentorship? 
  • Has implemented a best practice or change that made a lasting impact on their unit or peers? 

Nominate them for our Member Spotlight now

New NANNcast Out Now: Voices for Change: Advocating for the Neonatal APRN Role 

In this episode, Jill is joined by neonatal APRNs Gail Bagwell, Scott Duncan, and Meredith Farmer for a conversation about advocacy, awareness, and the future of the profession.  

Together, they discuss the impact neonatal APRNs have on patient outcomes, the importance of strengthening the workforce, and why having a voice at the bedside, within healthcare systems, and in policy discussions matters more than ever. 

Listen now

Earn Referral Rewards Faster by Spreading the Word About Group Memberships

Encourage the nurses at your institution to join NANN as a group and watch your referral rewards grow! NANN group membership brings neonatal care teams together around shared learning, professional growth, and evidence-based practice, all while saving up to $20 each on membership. Spread the word today.

Bring NANN to Your Unit by Hosting a LunchandLearn 

Use our ready‑to‑go PowerPoint to introduce NANN to your colleagues during a staff meeting, huddle, or informal session. Hosting a lunch‑and‑learn is one of the easiest ways to build awareness and momentum for group membership while helping you earn referral rewards faster. It’s an easy way to introduce NANN to your unit, share the value of membership, and create an opportunity for colleagues to join together. 

Better Together: Spread the Word About NANN Group Discounts 

Rally your NICU friends and encourage them to join NANN at a discount! No matter what institution you’re a part of, NANN provides discounts to those who join together; groups of 3-9 save $10 each on registration, and groups of 10+ save $20 each. The more friends you gather, the more you save – take advantage of this discount today! Please note that all group members must be new NANN members to qualify.

Invite Your NICU Teammates to Grow with NANN 

Every NICU success story is a team effort. Respiratory therapists, dietitians, occupational therapists, and other non‑nurse colleagues work alongside you every day supporting babies, families, and each other. By inviting them to join NANN as Associate Members, you’re opening the door to shared knowledge, trusted resources, and a stronger, more connected care team. Help everyone grow together and deliver the best possible care by spreading the word about NANN Associate Membership.  

Help Your Colleagues Unlock Education, Community, and More 

Help your colleagues experience the power of NANN by inviting them to join as e‑Members! For $104, they’ll gain access to trusted education, a national community of neonatal nurses, and a digital subscription to Advances in Neonatal Care, giving them tools, connection, and confidence they can carry into every shift. 

Share this Page