Association News
Calling All Clinical Nurse Specialists!
The American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) Certification Corporation invites clinical nurse specialists (CNSs) to participate in the 2016 CNS Practice Analysis. This survey is conducted every 5 years and results will be used to update the Neonatal, Pediatric, and Adult-Gerontology CNS certification exams. The survey results also will provide important information to AACN on how to best support the practice of CNSs.
At the completion of the survey, respondents may register to win National Teaching Institute registration or one of four $50 gift cards. Please complete and submit your survey responses by June 5, 2016. Start the survey now.
NANN Needs You: Answer the Annual Call for Volunteers Today!
NANN depends on and thrives because of the many member volunteers who generously give their time and expertise to carry out the work of the organization. But volunteering for NANN is not all give and no take. Serving on a committee can also help you hone or develop new skills to enhance your career.
NANN member volunteers must be currently practicing in neonatal nursing in a role such as clinical care, education, research, administration, or consulting. At its discretion, NANN’s Board of Directors may make exceptions to this requirement.
Members interested in any of the following opportunities should submit an application, which includes a statement of interest addressing why you would like to be considered, your CV, and a conflict of interest statement. Volunteer now! The application deadline is Monday, June 27, for the following opportunities:
- Awards Selection Committee
- Education Provider Committee
- Health Policy and Advocacy Committee
- NANN E-news Editor
- NANN Nominations Committee
- NANNP Nominations Committee
- NNP Excellence Award Selection Committee
- Program Planning Committee
- Research Committee
- Research Institute Steering Council
- Small Grants Committee
- Special Interest Group Facilitators
Awards Selection Committee
Help NANN celebrate the outstanding achievements of our members by serving on the Awards Selection Committee. NANN is seeking several committee members who are registered nurses (RNs), advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs), or NANN chapter leaders to recommend a recipient for each of the following: Leadership Award, Navigator Award, Robyn Main Excellence in Clinical Practice Award and six Chapter Awards.
Term: One 2-year term with an option to be reappointed for a second term.
Committee Member Responsibilities: Review and rate award nominations. Participate in one to two conference calls with the committee to finalize award recipients.
Education Provider Committee
Join the Education Provider Committee to offer vision and provide guidance to the NANN continuing nursing education (CNE) program. We encouraged RNs and APRNs to submit an application today.
Term: One 2-year term with an option to be reappointed for a second term.
Committee Member Responsibilities: Engage in ongoing identification and reporting of practice gaps and learning needs. Maintain awareness of member education needs, interests, and preferred learning styles. Evaluate the overall educational program annually. Recommend an educational agenda for the coming year. Ensure compliance with accreditation criteria.
Health Policy and Advocacy Committee
Join the committee of NANN members who are passionate about legislation that supports patients, families, and the nurses who care for them and who want to help educate NANN members on important neonatal advocacy issues. RNs and APRNs are invited to apply for the four open committee positions.
Term: One 4-year term (maximum)
Responsibilities: Collaborate with committee members to plan and carry out events such as Virtual Lobby Week, webinars, and activities at NANN’s annual educational conference. Committee members also monitor and write about key neonatal issues for NANN publications, as well as select NANN’s scholarship winners to attend the Nurse in Washington Internship program. The committee meets bimonthly via teleconference.
NANN E-News Editor
Be the next NANN E-News editor and help ensure this electronic publication remains a relevant and informative news source for NANN members.
Term: One 2-year term with an option to be reappointed for a second term.
Responsibilities: Solicit a feature article for each issue. Work with staff and the board liaison, review and edit content for relevance, value, and accuracy.
NANN Nominations Committee
Influence the future direction of NANN by participating on the committee that develops the slate of officer and director candidates for NANN’s annual board elections. The committee is seeking two new members.
Term: One 2-year term (maximum)
Committee Member Responsibilities: In collaboration with other committee members, review applications; identify additional candidates, as needed; interview applicants; select the slate of candidates for the election; and communicate with candidates. Members are expected to attend approximately three conference calls when the committee is active (January through May).
NANNP Nominations Committee
Calling NANNP members! Help ensure the ongoing vibrancy of NANNP by joining the committee that develops the slate of candidates for the NANNP Council annual election. The committee has open positions for one NANNP member-at-large and two past NANNP Council members.
Term: One 2-year term (maximum)
Committee Member Responsibilities: In collaboration with other committee members, review applications; identify additional candidates, as needed; interview applicants; select the slate of candidates for the election; and communicate with candidates. Members are expected to attend approximately three conference calls when the committee is active (January through May).
NNP Excellence Award Selection Committee
Celebrate outstanding NNPs by serving on the committee that selects recipients of this significant award. NANNP is seeking two members-at-large to serve on the committee.
Term: One 2-year term (maximum)
Committee Member Responsibilities: Participate in one to two conference calls to review and select an award recipient, guided but not compelled by submitted nominations.
Program Planning Committee
If you have ever wanted to help develop the educational program for the NANN Annual Educational Conference, now is the time to apply to serve on the Program Planning Committee (PPC). The PPC represents NANN values and members' needs in assessing, planning, implementing, and evaluating the education portion of the Annual Educational Conference. Whether you are an APRN or RN, your voice is needed and you are encouraged to apply.
Term: One 2-year term with an option to be reappointed for a second term.
Committee Member Responsibilities: Select topics for the annual program by reviewing submitted abstracts and considering the needs of neonatal nurses practicing in a variety of roles, as well as prior conference feedback. Help identify general session speakers. Assist with educational activities of the conference, as needed.
Research Committee
The Research Committee supports neonatal nursing research and the overall strategic direction established by the Research Institute. If you are a neonatal nurse with research experience and are interested in helping promote research through education and awareness of the research process, apply to join the Research Committee! Committee members include those who are DNP and PhD prepared.
Term: One 2-year term with an option to be reappointed for a second term.
Committee Member Responsibilities: Facilitate special projects to meet Research Committee goals, oversee and judge the NANN annual research abstract award, select paper and poster abstracts for presentation at the annual educational conference, publish research-related items in NANN newsletters and journal, and evaluate research survey requests.
Research Institute Steering Council
If you are passionate about research and how research findings can be disseminated and utilized for the improvement of neonatal care, apply to serve on the Research Institute Steering Council. The Council develops NANN's research agenda and directs the resources of the Research Committee and Small Grants Committee to support agenda goals.
Term: One 2-year term with an option to be reappointed for a second term.
Council Member Responsibilities: Identify gaps in neonatal nursing research and combine these with wants and needs of NANN members to develop a research agenda that aligns with NANN's strategic direction. Work with the Research Committee and Small Grants Committee to establish the criteria for abstract and/or application qualifications for the Research Summit, Small Grants Program and annual educational conference paper and poster submissions.
Small Grants Committee
Help select the recipients of NANN's Small Grants Awards and support the work of the recipients and mentors to ensure the success of each grant. Committee members include neonatal nurses who are PhD and DNP prepared and who have research experience with writing, reviewing, and administration of grants.
Term: One 2-year term with an option to be reappointed for a second term.
Committee Member Responsibilities: Review grant submissions and select recipients, communicate feedback to grant recipients and nonrecipients, provide administrative oversight of grants and regular progress reports to the Research Institute Steering Council, and recommend improvements to the grant selection process, as appropriate.
Special Interest Group Facilitators
Special interest groups (SIGs) are one of the many ways membership in NANN provides neonatal nurses with opportunities to connect, network, and share best practices. These groups are led by volunteers who facilitate discussions among members of the group and work collaboratively with other SIG facilitators and the board liaison to accomplish mutual goals that support the strategic plan of the association. Facilitator positions are open on the Staff Nurse and Discharge Transition SIGs. Applicants for SIG liaison positions must be members of the relevant SIG.
Term: One 2-year term with the option for reappointment to a second term.
Responsibilities: Stimulate and facilitate discussions for the SIG via the MyNANN member community, write articles for NANN publications, attend NANN’s annual conference to chair the SIG networking event, and submit a brief report on SIG activities to the board two times a year. The typical time commitment is 1 to 4 hours per month.
2016 Small Grant Recipients
NANN would like to congratulate the individuals selected as a 2016 Small Grant recipients! The following individuals will present their findings at the 2018 Annual Educational Conference.
Melinda Colleen Brand, PhD APRN NNP-BC
Texas Children’s Hospital
Pilot Study on the Impact of Unit Design and Shift Assignment on Stress in NICU Nurses
Milena Frazer, RN
Connecticut Children’s Medical Center
Improving Thermoregulation in Our Low Birth Weight Population in the Golden Hour
Britt Frisk Pados, PhD RN NNP-BC
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, School of Nursing
Assessment of the Psychometric Properties of the Neonatal Eating Assessment Tool (Neo-EAT)
The Small Grant Program is made possible through educational grants from the following:



Enter Your Photo in the Faces of Neonatal Nursing Photo Contest
Be a part of the 2016 NANN 32nd Annual Educational Conference by submitting a photo for the Faces of Neonatal Nursing Photo Contest! Neonatal nursing has many faces—from dedicated nursing professionals to the faces of growing and prospering neonates and their families—and NANN wants to share them with the world.
Photo submissions and narratives will be displayed at the NANN 32nd Annual Educational Conference taking place October 26–29 in Palm Springs, CA, where conference attendees will determine the winning photo via an online ballot. The winner will receive a complimentary registration to NANN’s 2017 annual conference, and the photo will be considered for use on the cover of an issue of Advances in Neonatal Care.
All photos must be submitted in high-resolution electronic format, preferably 300 DPI, to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. by August 1, 2016. Learn more about how to enter the 2016 Faces of Neonatal Nursing Photo Contest.
2016 Elections—Make Your Vote Count!
The 2016 NANN and NANNP elections will open Friday, July 1. Mark your calendar today!
NANN will elect a secretary/treasurer, two directors-at-large, and one staff nurse director-at-large. NANNP will elect four council members.
The core purpose of both NANN and NANNP is to support the professional needs of neonatal nurses throughout their careers. Electing the best leaders for the association allows us to fulfill that purpose. Please do your part by casting your votes—your voice is important!
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