Barbara Snapp, DNP, APRN, NNP-BC
NANN President
Greetings from the NANN Board of Directors! As your new President for 2026–2028, I’m delighted to have this chance to introduce myself and share the priorities guiding our work over the next two years.
First, let me thank Immediate Past President Taryn Edwards for her leadership and for her guidance during my year as president-elect.
Meet Your New President
I have been a neonatal nurse practitioner for over 32 years and in the neonatal space for over 45. I am employed by Children’s National in Washington, DC but practice in a Level III in Fredericksburg, Virginia. I serve as the Children’s Regional Team Lead for Advanced Practice Providers, am an Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at the George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences and am Neonatal Co-Chair for the Virginia Neonatal Perinatal Collaborative.
Over the years, I have served NANN in many capacities, including chapter leader, conference chair, communications chair, manuscript and abstract reviewer, newsletter editor, position statement author, chair of the NANN-AP Nominations Committee, chair of the Awards Committee, chair of NANN-AP, and now President. When I am not at work or participating in NANN activities, you can find me on my horse farm in Virginia.
Strengthening the Continuum of Neonatal Care
Neonatal care follows a continuum. It begins with prenatal planning to the delivery room and continues through the NICU, and extends into the transition home, where families take on a larger role in their child’s care. Neonates and families are best served when every handoff along that path is grounded in evidence and consistent practice.
Our Strategic Plan puts that continuum at the center of NANN’s work. Over the coming years, the Board will focus on:
- Keeping our clinical guidance strong. We are committed to the credibility, relevance, and scientific integrity of NANN’s clinical practice guidelines, standards, and position statements.
- Putting evidence into practice. We want more members using research, evidence-based practice, and quality improvement to improve care on their units. Beginning in 2027, Advances in Neonatal Care will move to a fully digital format, giving you faster, more searchable access to the latest evidence.
- Supporting development and the transition home. Resources like Developmental Care of Newborns and Infants, the Neonatal Developmental Care Specialist Designation, and NANN’s family education materials help care teams provide individualized, family-centered care from admission through discharge.
- Advocating for equitable care. NANN will continue to influence decisions that affect neonatal nursing professionals and the neonates and families in their care, so that every family in every community receives a high level of care.
Introducing NANN Institutional Membership
Delivering on that continuum depends on a strong, well-supported workforce. NICU leaders are managing staffing shortages, onboarding nurses new to neonatal care, maintaining competencies, and supporting certification and retention all at once. Turnover adds to that pressure: the 2026 NSI National Health Care Retention & RN Staffing Report estimates the average cost of replacing one bedside RN at $60,090.
To help, NANN has launched Institutional Membership, a way for hospitals and health systems to give their entire neonatal team access to NANN. Packages serve groups of 25 to 500 nurses, with custom options for larger systems, and can include:
- NANN membership for NICU nurses, plus NANN-AP benefits for advanced practice clinicians
- Conference participation and ongoing education, including savings on NANN iLearn content
- Certification and designation support, including discounts on the Developmental Care Specialist Designation
- Quarterly engagement and utilization reporting, with benchmarking against similar institutions
Memberships can be shared across NICUs and hospitals within a system, so leaders can direct access where it’s needed most. Many organizations start with a single NICU and expand from there. For hospitals pursuing or maintaining Magnet® recognition, investing in nurses’ education and professional growth also supports the Magnet focus on nursing excellence.
If you are a nurse leader, I encourage you to explore what Institutional Membership could look like for your team. If you’re a staff nurse, please share this with your manager or educator. Molly Anderson, CAE, NANN Executive Director, is happy to talk through options at [email protected].
Let’s Stay Connected
I’d love to hear where NANN can make the biggest difference in your unit’s care. Join the conversation in the MyNANN Community, connect with your local chapter, and mark your calendar for our 43rd Annual Conference in Las Vegas, October 5–8, 2027. You can always reach out to me personally at [email protected].
Thank you for the exceptional care you provide for neonates and their families every day. It is truly a privilege to serve as your President, and I look forward to working together to advance neonatal nursing and improve outcomes for the patients and families who depend on us.
Warmly,
