Leanne Nantais-Smith, PhD RN NNP-BC FAANP
NANN-AP Council Chair
A warm hello to everyone during this hot summer season, though staying cool is my wish for all. We all remain busy, even in summer, though I hope you are taking time for everyday joys and planned vacations with family and friends.
Time passes so quickly; it is hard to believe that two years have passed and my tenure as Chair of NANN-AP is coming to an end. I state with sincerity that it has been an honor and privilege to serve in this position and work with such an amazing group of professionals, volunteers, academics, NNPs, neonatal CNSs, and advocates who work tirelessly to advance clinical care and improve outcomes for our vulnerable neonates and their families.
My deepest thanks to Molly Anderson, Executive Director of NANN, and the amazing AMC staff, who work diligently to assist us in successfully completing our work. So much of this work goes on behind the scenes; it does not go unnoticed and is much appreciated. To Taryn Edwards, President of NANN, collaborating closely with you for the last two years has been a gift. Your indefatigable dedication to advancing NANN as the leading organization in all things neonatal has been extraordinary. My sincere thank you to all NANN-AP Council members Leann Baker, Tracey Bell, Meredith Farmer, Tosha Harris, Erna Josiah-Davis, Michele Savin, and Heather Stephens, who have shared their expertise, given their time freely, and worked tirelessly this last year on issues both exciting and challenging and addressed the needs and priorities voiced by our membership.
Here are highlights of our accomplishments over the last two years:
- We entered into a partnership with the American Academy of Emergency Nurse Practitioners (AAENP) and released a module specific to evidence-based care of the late preterm infant: Common Complications of the Late Term Infant. Additionally, we established a new liaison position to AAENP; congratulations to Suzanne Staebler, who will represent the neonatal perspective and share our expertise with this organization.
- We approved our first Action Plan to accompany the Position Statement entitled The Impact of Advanced Practice Registered Nurses’ Shift Length and Fatigue on Patient Safety (#3076). The purpose of the Action Plan was to provide actionable steps to facilitate implementation of position statement recommendations into the practice site.
- Leann Baker and Heather Stephens (co-leads) have worked with Task Force members Suzanne Staebler, Pamela Jackson, and Jamie Carey to finalize the Advocacy Toolkit for the Neonatal APRN with a release deadline for the end of this year.
- We welcomed new non-nurse advanced practice providers into membership to foster inclusivity across the neonatal care team and ensure access to best practices, NANN education and guidelines, and NANN-AP position statements.
- We refocused Fireside Chats as a forum for membership to identify issues, bring them to the Council by Chat leaders for discussion, and have Chat leaders share the Council discussion and recommendation feedback with the chat groups.
- Council members reach out personally to new APRN members and encourage them to actively participate in volunteer activities and provide input on neonatal APRN issues and initiatives.
- We continue the APRN You Should Know program to publicly recognize the phenomenal achievements of our neonatal NP and CNS colleagues. Recognize a colleague here.
- Council members Michele Savin, Meredith Farmer, and Heather Stephens are completing the initial planning phase for updating and repackaging three resources related to NNP orientation, mentoring, and precepting.
The Council continues to prioritize the work related to NNP critical staffing issues in response to requests from Neonatal NPs and CNSs. There has been initial survey work completed, with updates expected shortly. We continue to explore this urgent topic, consider a different project scope, and define the best framework or structure to provide a meaningful, purposeful position paper and operational action plan that will provide safe staffing solutions for NNPs in all levels of NICU care.
We will continue as the unified voice for advanced neonatal practice professionals to ensure safe, quality, and cost-effective evidence-based care that improves outcomes for neonates, infants, their families, and communities. Encourage others to join us and take an active role in this rewarding work. Volunteering is easy to do; stay informed on calls for volunteers and commit to involvement in rewarding professional work.
Mark your calendars! Join us at the NANN 42nd Annual Conference in West Palm Beach, Florida, from September 15-18, 2026. Connect with other neonatal professionals and experts, learn what is new in neonatal care, and share these ideas when you return to your practice units.
The all-day NANN-AP Advanced Practice Summit will take place on September 15, 2026. Although the main conference will have APRN content, the AP Summit, Where Expertise Meets the Future, will provide education for faculty and leadership, provide opportunities for discussion and collaborative problem solving, and connect you with industry professionals. Additionally, in partnership with the American Academy of Pediatrics, a pre-conference course is being offered to AP Summit registrants who are current NRP Providers/Instructors. Be among the first to earn Resuscitation in the NICU Instructor status – enrollment is limited, so move quickly to ensure your place in the course.
Once again, our accomplishments were achieved thanks to the hard work of the NANN staff, Board of Directors, NANN-AP Council, and many volunteers. This is my personal thank you to all who have worked so hard these last two years and will continue to work on new goals and priorities over the next several years.
See you in West Palm Beach, Florida, in September!
