Leanne Nantais-Smith, PhD RN NNP-BC FAANP
NANN-AP Council Chair
Warm greetings to all during these summer months, though I hope you are staying cool during a very hot and humid season to date.
The past months have been challenging as we contend with recent directives and funding changes that impact access to life-saving care and ongoing health care needs for vulnerable neonates and their families. The organization has actively responded, both individually and with other nursing professional organizations, with urgent requests to the appropriate committees and legislators to carefully consider the repercussions of these policies on vulnerable populations. This includes a call for removal of all barriers that limit full practice authority for all neonatal advanced practice nurses. This will empower us to practice to the full extent of our education and improve access to safe, evidence-based, quality health care to improve outcomes.
Discussions on several urgent neonatal APRN practice issues, such as full practice authority, growth of the current workforce, and the workforce environment, are topics in the panel discussion taking place during the all-day APRN-focused preconference. This is one of many exciting, interactive, and hands-on sessions the NANN-AP APRN Summit Task Force has planned for the APRN preconference. Additional APRN content is offered throughout the NANN 41st Annual Conference, taking place September 9-12, 2025, in Palm Springs, CA. Plan on joining us at the APRN Summit and the full conference to learn, meet and interact with neonatal experts and conference attendees, and have a wonderful, meaningful, and rewarding time filled with activities, fun, and celebration.
We have completed an important nomination cycle for open NANN-AP positions and congratulate our new Council members. As a leading neonatal advanced practice organization, we must address the challenges in neonatal health care delivery and share our expertise. Please join us in this work. Volunteering is easy to do; stay informed on calls for volunteers and be involved in rewarding professional work. We offer guidance and mentorship to assist you in pursuing your professional goals. Together, we can work to ensure delivery of safe, evidence-based care to our vulnerable neonatal patients and families.
The NANN-AP Council Task Force working on the Position Paper and Action Plan addressing NNP critical staffing issues continues to make great progress. This talented group of experts completed the survey questions for data collection and will soon be deploying the survey.
The NANN-AP Council has also prioritized work on addressing the urgent issues, challenges, and barriers related to the neonatal APRN roles: the NNP and neonatal CNS. The Council is currently formulating the content, format, and work group for this undertaking. Stay tuned for additional information in the next NANN-AP Corner.
Together, we make a difference in accomplishing identified goals. I am sincerely thankful for the tireless dedication and hard work of an entire team of NANN staff, Board of Directors, NANN-AP Council members, and the many volunteers who work continuously and selflessly to advance our mission. I look forward to working with all of you to achieve our current goals.
