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Association News

2016 Call to Serve: NANN and NANNP Need You!

NANN's 2016 election application period is now open. Don't miss this opportunity to serve as a leader in your association and support the professional needs of neonatal nurses throughout their careers. If you know of someone who would make a wonderful candidate, be sure to encourage them to apply.

Members of the NANN Board of Directors and NANNP Council possess the following attributes and skills:

  • Strategic thinking and vision
  • Strong ethical behavior
  • Commitment to diversity
  • Excellent interpersonal skills
  • Effective communication skills
  • Ability to foster leadership in others
  • Collaboration skills.

NANN and NANNP are seeking candidates for the following leadership positions:

  • NANN Board of Directors
    Four positions are open in 2016: secretary/treasurer, one staff nurse director-at-large, one director-at-large, and one special interest groups (SIG) director-at-large. Candidates must be current NANN members in good standing for at least 3 years prior to the election; currently practicing in neonatal nursing in a role such as clinical care, education, research, administration, advocacy, quality improvement, or consulting; and have a history of leadership in NANN at a local or national level.
  • NANNP Council
    Four seats on the NANNP Council are open in 2016. Candidates must be current NANN and NANNP members in good standing and be practicing in advanced neonatal nursing in a role such as clinical care, education, research, administration, advocacy, quality improvement, or consulting. Candidates also must have a history of leadership in NANN, NANNP, or another professional association at a local or national level.

Your Voice Is Important
We want and need to hear from you. If you are interested in serving on the board or council or know someone who is, online applications must be submitted by Friday, April 15. If you know of a potential NANN Board or NANNP Council member, please encourage them to apply.

Help Us Identify Our Neonatal Nurse Heroes: 2016 NANN and NANNP Awards Nominations Open

It couldn’t be easier to recognize your neonatal nursing peers with NANN’s awards program. Be sure to nominate deserving colleagues who are dedicated to neonatal nursing so NANN can celebrate their extraordinary contributions.

NANN offers the following awards:

  • Robyn Main Excellence in Clinical Practice Award
  • Navigator Award
  • Leadership Award
  • Neonatal Nurse Practitioner (NNP) Excellence Award
  • Chapter of the Year Award
  • Individual Chapter Project Awards: advocacy, communications, community service, educational offerings, fundraising efforts, and membership recruitment and retention.

Learn more about NANN’s awards program and access the online application for each award. Nominations are due May 1, 2016.

Lee Shirland Is NANNP’s Chair-Elect!

Lee Shirland, MS NNP-BC, was elected in February by the current National Association of Neonatal Nurse Practitioners (NANNP) Council to serve as chair-elect. Shirland will serve as chair-elect through NANNP’s 2016 business meeting and will succeed Susan Meier to serve as chair until 2018.

Lee Shirland received her BSN from the University of Maine in 1988, graduating with highest distinction, and her master's of science neonatal nurse practitioner (NNP) from Boston College in 1995. From 1988 to 1996, Shirland worked as a staff nurse in the Rosen Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at Eastern Maine Medical Center in Bangor, ME. She has worked as an NNP at Cape Fear Valley Health System (CFVHS) in Fayetteville, NC, since 1996, and she has been the co-coordinator of the neonatal advanced practice service at CFVHS since 1998. Shirland has been a member of NANN since 1988 and a member of the South Eastern Carolina Chapter since 1996. She is a member of the Carolinas Association of Neonatal Nurse Practitioners and has served on the board of that organization since 1998. Shirland was a founding member of the National Association of Neonatal Nurse Practitioners (NANNP) in 2007 and served on the council since its inception in 2012. Since then, Shirland has served on the NANNP Nominations Committee and the NNP Competency Maintenance Toolkit Committee and was elected to serve on NANNP’s Council again as chair-elect.

Share Your Story and Inspire Others: Brighter Tomorrows Story Contest Now Open

Enter the Brighter Tomorrows Story Contest for a chance to win complimentary registration to NANN’s 32nd Annual Educational Conference in Palm Springs, CA, October 26–29, 2016.

Stories should be relevant to neonatal nursing practice and describe a baby’s or family’s progress or the professional development or mentoring of a neonatal nurse. The maximum length for stories is 500 words (stories that exceed the maximum length will not be considered); photos may accompany stories if the appropriate permission has been granted and a signed release form is submitted with the entry.

To enter, please send your story and photo release form via This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. by Monday, April 25, 2016.

By submitting a story, you give NANN permission to reproduce it in the association’s print and electronic media. The winning entry will be chosen in May 2016, and its author will be notified immediately.  The winning story will be printed in NANN Central and posted on the NANN website.

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