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NANNCentralWinter 2015-2016 • Vol. 31, No. 3

from NANN’s President

Inspiring OthersRegina Grazel, MSN RN BC APN-C

I am honored to serve as the next president of NANN, following in the footsteps of many exceptional nurse leaders. It was a pleasure to meet so many of you at the annual meeting in Dallas. Whether we were introduced at the speed networking session, bumped into each other between the wonderful educational sessions, chat-ted in the exhibit hall, or sat together at lunch, I enjoyed meeting you and learning about you. I am truly inspired by the good work you do every day for infants and their families.

We were wowed, stimulated, invigorated, challenged, and refreshed at NANN’s annual meeting this year. During the opening keynote, Dr. Britt Berrett, a passion-ate advocate for excellence in health care, appealed to the leader in all of us by asking us to inspire others.

As neonatal nurses, we are both inspired by and are a powerful source of inspiration for each other and the families for whom we care. We take pride in and

are encouraged by colleagues who have demonstrated excellence, are recognized as exceptional, and have taken challenges head-on and been met with success. Some have reached the pinnacle of their careers, while others have made small but effective or incremental changes in their units or departments. Some of these heroes were honored as NANN award recipients at the annual meeting. For me, the announcement of the award winners is one of those feel-good moments of the conference. This is an opportunity to showcase neonatal nursing’s best. These role models have shown exceptional service to others in some shape or fashion and their stories provide inspiration for us all.

We also are inspired by those who challenge us, raise the bar and expect we will reach it, give us confidence and encouragement, push us to excel in large and small ways, and say “I think you can do this” or “You would be great at this.”

By words and actions, we are motivated by others. We find sources of inspiration from those who overcame a personal hardship, stepped up in times of crisis, contributed in an extraordinary way, or demonstrated caring and a strong desire to make a difference.

As neonatal nurses, we have a privileged view of life’s fragile beginnings as we witness the brave struggles of infants and their families. Every day we have the opportunity to positively touch and shape lives or be touched by those same lives. When we are truly passionate about what we do, we are inspired to provide excellent, high-quality care, and we inspire those around us. We become the role model, coach, teacher, believer, influencing force, or caring friend who inspires and unleashes the passion in others.

How will your passion for neonatal nursing and excellence in care inspire someone today or in the future?

Heather D. Goodall, MSN RNC-NIC IBCLC, Program Planning Committee Co-Chair

The NANN Annual Education-al Conference was a great success! The speed network-ing session, now in its second year, grew to more than 75 participants and was a terrific way to network with col-leagues from around the

world. A mix of concurrent sessions focusing on evi-dence-based clinical and advanced practice topics, as well as current research and quality improvement projects, were available for everyone from novice to expert neonatal care providers. A few sessions built on topics from the interprofessional session and rel-evant clinical topics that required more than one session for discussion. Interactive networking ses-sions with two of our general session speakers allowed for conference attendees to engage with these particular experts to build upon their new knowledge. And designated concurrent sessions highlighted the work of NANN’s small grant recipi-ents and pertinent topics from NANN’s advocacy and research committees.

We were thrilled to host dynamic speakers for our general sessions:

• Dr. Britt Berrett, our opening session speaker, is the coauthor of The New York Times best-seller Patients Come Second: Leading Change by Changing the Way You Lead. He is a Dallas native who served as president/CEO of Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital, one of the largest faith-based integrated health systems in the nation. He is currently the head of a new under-

graduate program in healthcare administration at the University of Texas at Dallas. In his keynote address, Dr. Berrett shared his passion and expertise in creating a culture of excel-lence while inspiring the leader in all of us, at any level, to take part in improving the care we provide as neonatal nurses. His admiration for the work we do and how much power we have to make positive change was clearly articulated during his presentation.

• Kelli Kelley is the founder and executive direc-tor of Hand to Hold, a national not-for-profit organization dedicated to providing education and support for NICU families and those who have lost a baby. In her general session, Kelley gave us a unique look inside her personal experience as a NICU parent while helping us gain a better understanding of the parent’s per-spective and the importance of family-centered care. Her story was poignant, a few tears were shed, and her message was clear: parents look to their neonatal nurse for guidance and sup-port in the care of their infant. These families carry those experiences with them forever and are grateful for the care they received.

• Virginia (Ginny) Beeson retired from the Navy in 2003 as chief nurse executive at the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, MD. Currently, she is an independent consul-tant who works with healthcare organizations across the country to change their culture to one that supports a more positive, productive, and professional workplace. In our closing ses-

sion, she helped us understand the barriers and behavior patterns that prevent change while also giving us new ideas and the motivation to successfully make changes in our practice and workplace. Her use of humor and personal stories and experiences helped us see how we are all facing similar issues and that there are ways to overcome them.

Everything is bigger in Texas, they say! We sure noticed that in the exhibit hall, where our many exhibitors showcased several new products and cutting-edge technology to improve our work at the bedside. NANN’s eight special interest groups convened over breakfast to network and discuss challenges in their current areas of interest. Many new ideas for improving our practice were shared during the author-attended poster viewing. New knowledge was discussed on the topics of preterm nutrition and use of breastmilk during our corporate satellite symposia. Finally, the NANN business meeting held a special election to fill the last year of the presidency term and educated us on the state of affairs and future of our organization.

We experienced the rain, thunder, and lightning of Dallas, but still got out to see some of the sights and visit nearby dining and entertainment options. One of the best aspects of NANN’s conference is getting the chance to socialize with friends and colleagues old and new. Next year, the 32nd Annual Educational Conference will be held in Palm Springs, CA, and I hope you will join me there October 26–29, 2016, for another exciting, educational, and inspirational conference!

NANN 31st Annual Educational Conference in Dallas

NANNP Corner

The Importance of Professional EngagementSusan Meier, DNP APRN NNP-BC

Professional engagement is becom-ing strategically important as many factors converge, including a national shortage of qualified neonatal nurse practitioners (NNPs); decreased enrollment in NNP pro-grams; increasing political resolve to restrain the growth of rising healthcare costs; the linking of demonstration of quality outcomes to reimbursement; and continued barriers to full, independent practice for advanced prac-tice registered nurses. As the healthcare system evolves, now more than ever it is time for nurses to fully partici-pate in the refinement of nursing as a profession.

Part of NANNP’s mission is to help members grow and develop professionally. One aspect of professional growth is engagement. The idea of professional engagement and success is aligned not only with improving one’s knowledge, but also with learning from one another in our relationships (Golden, 2008). Professional engagement is a positive, fulfilling state of mind about one’s profession that is characterized by vigor, dedication, and absorption. The outcomes of professional engagement are greater levels of personal initiative that are contagious (Bargagliotti, 2012).

Every NNP is responsible for his or her own professional development. Taking time to participate in professional activities within NANNP should be seen as an investment in one’s self. This investment is especially important at this time of health reform and NNP shortages. Not only is there an increasing focus on value, but the NNP role itself may be threatened by the influx of other providers into the NICU.

Professional opportunities offer powerful personal development that could be important to the future of the NNP. NANNP offers many opportunities to be professionally engaged. At the most basic level is membership, which promotes professional growth by providing the NNP with timely information regarding issues that impact the NNP role. Membership dues fund the participation of NANNP representatives at various key tables so the collective voice of the NNP can be heard. Other opportunities for engagement include attending the annual conference; participating in special interest group discussions via the MyNANN Communities; presenting a poster or session at a chapter, regional, or national conference; and serving

as a member of a task force or committee. Professional engagement also can take the form of utilizing NANN’s CEU offerings for certification maintenance or purchasing educational products through the NANN store.

Professional engagement is important for all NNPs now more than ever. The national shortage of NNPs and political healthcare reform pressure to stem costs and demonstrate quality underscore the importance of professional engagement. Building NANNP membership allows for a unified voice for NNPs. NANNP provides many opportunities for professional engagement at varying levels of involvement. Recruit a new member, renew your membership, and get involved today!

ReferencesBargagliotti, L. A. (2012). Work engagement in nursing: A

concept analysis. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 68(6), 1414–1428.

Golden, C. (2008). In person or online: The importance of professional engagement. Educause Review, 43(6), 124.

NANNP® Corner

Brighter Tomorrows Story Contest Now OpenEnter the Brighter Tomorrows Story Contest for a chance to win a 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 relate a baby’s or family’s progress or describe the professional development 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 print a release form and read stories submitted in previous years, please visit nann.org/BrighterTomorrow.

To enter, please send your story and release form via e-mail to info@nann.org. All entries must be received by Monday, April 25, 2016.Please note: 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 thereafter. The winning story will be printed in NANN Central and posted on the NANN website.

2016 Small Grants Program The Small Grants Mentee/Mentor Program is now accepting applications from all NANN members with an interest in furthering their research interests or initiating their own research study or evidence-based practice (EBP) project. The program provides an avenue for connecting those with little or no research background with experienced researchers to enhance their skills and promote the success of the research study or EBP project. The deadline to submit your grant application is Tuesday, March 1, 2016, at 11:59 pm CST.

If you are selected to receive one of the small grants, you will be required to attend NANN’s 32nd Annual Educational Conference, October 26–29, 2016, in Palm Springs, CA, to be recognized and receive your grant. You also will be required to present your findings at the 2018 NANN Annual Educational Conference.

Visit nann.org for the small grants application.

2015 Conference Scholarship RecipientsTwenty-seven conference registration scholarships were provided to NANN members to attend the 2015 Annual Educational Conference:

Jill BalokKathleen BaumgartnerReena BlackwellMitzi BoilangerAllison BrydenLakiesha Burke

Margie CampbellCheryl CaseAmy D’AgataDonna D’AlmeidaRachael EdjouAngie Elizondo

Media EsserJulie FullertonJacqui HoffmanWendy LindmierHelen MadausChrissy Munro

Patricia PennywellMary PuchalskiLinda ReidAnnette SanchezGreta SimmonsMoni Snell

Lydia TuckerErin Van OordtDorothy Vittner

Supported by

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 26–SATURDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2016PALM SPRINGS, CA | HOTEL

32ND ANNUAL EDUCATIONAL CONFERENCE

A New Global Initiative, the International Neonatal Consortium: How Is Our Neonatal Community Involved? Wakako M. Eklund, DNP APN NNP-BC

Today’s neonatal nurse is involved in an ever-widening scope of professional activities to improve the future of neonates. Our role’s expansion occurred alongside technological advances and the development of new strategic approaches to the care of patients, such as the increased focus on patient safety and quality. We must be well-informed in the greater context of today’s health care and its impact on the neonatal population, whether we are serving at the bedside, in academia, in the policy realm, or in the industry, so that our understanding of our unique role continues to expand. This short article will discuss gaps in the current landscape of neonatal research, especially as related to therapies, and the recent development of a global consortium, the International Neonatal Consortium (INC), and how neonatal nursing is engaged in this effort.

As we consider the worldwide research efforts aimed at advancing innovations in technologies and therapies to improve the healthcare outcomes of various populations, it’s important to remember that the neonatal population is by far the most understudied and underprivileged of these groups. Since the arrival of surfactant and antenatal steroids, which most of us remember occurring a rather long time ago, no new medications have shown significant improvements in neonatal outcomes (Davis, Connor, and Wood, 2012).

One study reported that those born earlier than 28 weeks in gestation received 12 unapproved drugs during their hospitalizations (Warrier, Du, Natarajan, Salari, and Aranda, 2006). Another study demonstrated that 93% of hospitalized neonates were exposed to at least one off-label medication during their stay (Conroy and McIntyre, 2005). When we combine these numbers with those from yet another report stating that an extremely preterm neonate may be exposed to more than 60 different medications (Kumar et al., 2008), we become alarmed at how extensively neonates are exposed to understudied medications. Some used to believe that it is not ethical to conduct clinical studies in such a vulnerable population; however, it is now suggested that it is unethical to continue to subject neonates to understudied therapies. Those who strive to advance neonatology share a unified desire to develop and improve future research in its design and methods with input from all those who are concerned with or involved with neonatal care (Offringa et al., 2015).

The significant need to facilitate and accelerate neonatal research was identified, and the public-private partnership of the INC was organized under the leadership of Critical Path Institute (C-path), a nonprofit organization that was established in 2005 to support the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA’s) Critical Path Initiative program (Brumfield, 2014; Offringa et al., 2015). The INC launch occurred in May 2015 in London at the annual meeting held at the European Medicines Agency (the European equivalent of the FDA), which hosted participants from regulatory bodies from multiple continents, various pharmaceutical corporate partners, academic leaders in neonatal research, international neonatal research networks from multiple continents, special interest groups, parent organizations, and neonatal nursing organizations. NANN was one of the two nursing organizations invited to participate in the launch meeting in

London. As NANN’s appointed representative to INC, I remotely joined the meeting on May 18 and 19, participated in workshops, and also served as a panel member for an event to discuss the role of nursing in engaging and understanding patients and families. One of the short-term goals of the launch meeting was to vote to prioritize the therapeutic areas on which the INC would focus in the next few years. As the NANN representative, I spoke for neonatal nurses with my vote.

This INC launch marked a significant point in the history of neonatology because of the extensive involvement of a wide range of partners in neonatal care and because of how it addressed not only the scientific issues, but also people like families and nurses who serve as the essential link to bringing successful research results to the bedside. The INC launch meeting resulted in the development of various working groups to address priorities.

I participate regularly in the monthly teleconference as a member of the INC Coordinating Committee, the governing body of INC, during which other members from across the globe gather to hear updates from various groups and focus on the next steps. I also recently was invited to serve on the INC Communications Committee to increase awareness in the wide neonatal community of the significance of this global entity and how each member group is valued. INC values the voice of neonatal nurses in its future efforts because we, the neonatal nursing community, understand more than anyone the concerns, fear, and anxiety felt by the families of neonates facing uncertain treatments on a daily basis.

Please look forward to further updates on INC and its future progress. New awareness brings new approaches, and our neonatal world has a bright future ahead.

ReferencesBrumfield, M. (2014). The Critical Path Institute: Transforming competitors into

collaborators. Nature Reviews. Drug Discovery, 13(11), 785–786. doi: 10.1038/nrd4436Conroy, S., & McIntyre, J. (2005). The use of unlicensed and off-label medicines in the

neonate. Seminars in Fetal and Neonatal Medicine, 10(2), 115–122. doi: 10.1016/j.siny.2004.11.003

Davis, J. M., Connor, E. M., & Wood, A. J. (2012). The need for rigorous evidence on medication use in preterm infants: Is it time for a neonatal rule? JAMA, 308(14), 1435–1436. doi: 10.1001/jama.2012.12883

Kumar, P., Walker, J. K., Hurt, K. M., Bennett, K. M., Grosshans, N., & Fotis, M. A. (2008). Medication use in the neonatal intensive care unit: Current patterns and off-label use of parenteral medications. Journal of Pediatrics, 152(3), 412–415. doi: 10.1016/j.jpeds.2007.07.050

Offringa, M., Davis, J. M., Turner, M. A., Ward, R., Bax, R., Maldonado, S., . . . Nelson, R. M. (2015). Applying regulatory science fo develop safe and effective medicines for neonates: Report of the US Food and Drug Administration First Annual Neonatal Scientific Workshop, October 28–29, 2014. Therapeutic Innovation and Regulatory Science, 49(5), 623–631. doi: 10.1177/2168479015597730

Warrier, I., Du, W., Natarajan, G., Salari, V., & Aranda, J. (2006). Patterns of drug utilization in a neonatal intensive care unit. Journal of Clinical Pharmacology, 46(4), 449–455. doi: 10.1177/0091270005285456

Congratulations to the 2015 NANN Award RecipientsSmall Grant Award . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Thao Griffith, PhD(c) BSN RNSmall Grant Award . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lauren M. Head, BSN RNSmall Grant Award . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Dorothy Vittner, PhD(c) MSN BSNResearch Abstract Award . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Kate McGinnis, BSN RN-NICClinical Abstract Award . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Barbara Cirrito, BSN RNC-NICNNP Excellence Award . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Suzanne Staebler, DNP APRN NNP-BC FAANPLeadership Award . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Judy Vitali, BSN RNC-NIC CIME CPFI CHBEDistinguished Service Award . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Donna Dowling, PhD RNNavigator Award . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Shakira Henderson, PhD(c) DNP MS MPH RNC-NIC IBCLCRobyn Main Award . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Michelle Nicoli, RNC-CNRP IVLifetime Achievement Award . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Robin L. Bissinger, PhD APRN NNP-BC FAANChapter of the Year . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Central California Chapter of NANNChapter Awards for Communications, Advocacy, and Education . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Delaware Valley Chapter of NANNChapter Award for Membership Recruitment & Retention . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . State of Michigan Chapter of NANNChapter Awards for Community Service and Fundraising . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Southeast Florida Chapter of NANNChapter Challenge Winner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Fort Worth Texas Chapter of NANN

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Advocacy UpdateHealth Policy and Advocacy Committee Conference HighlightsJoyce Stein, BSN RN, Health Policy and Advocacy Committee Co-Chair

The Health Policy and Advocacy Committee (HPAC) thanks all who attended our three events at this year’s Annual Educational Conference in Dallas. For those of you who missed our events, here is a brief recap.

The HPAC events kicked off with the annual roundtable breakfast on Friday. This is always an excellent opportunity to learn about the

latest neonatal and nursing legislative issues. The HPAC’s 2015 Advocacy Highlights document was presented. (Go to the Advocacy page of the NANN website to download a copy.) Two pieces of legislation were highlighted for NANN members to advocate for with their legislators: the Protecting Our Infants Act (S. 799), a bill to support efforts to collect and disseminate strategies and best prac-tices for preventing and treating maternal opioid use and abuse, and a bill being considered in North Carolina to add testing for severe combined immunodeficiency to genetic screening at birth. Much of health care and nursing practice are legislated at the state and federal level; therefore, both of these bills are opportunities to use our collective nursing voice to educate our legislators on the many aspects of neonatal health care.

Next, the HPAC sponsored a concurrent session, “Advocacy: What Is It?”, led this year by Liz Welch-Carre. This session provided a

brief history and tools to help nurses make advocacy a part of their professional practice, including tools for engaging and influencing federal and state policies throughout the legislative process. Download Welch-Carre’s slides from this session via the 2015 conference page on the NANN website.

The HPAC continued its practice of hosting a booth in the exhibit hall to network with participants throughout the conference. This year’s HPAC booth spotlighted the 50th anniversary of nurse practitioner practice. The display was an excellent example of nursing’s rich history of continually redefining and expanding our practice. A map of the United States highlighting each state’s status regarding advanced practice registered nurse practice authority (restricted to full practice) was on display. Legislation regarding the scope of practice for any nursing discipline concerns us all because it affects the nursing profession as a whole.

All nurses can engage in legislative advocacy. NANN’s annual educational conference is an excellent opportunity to learn more about health policy and the role of the neonatal nurse. If you missed the HPAC events this year, be sure to sign up for our activities next year to stay informed on the role of NANN members in health policy decisions. Until then, follow the HPAC in the MyNANN Advocacy Community and on the NANN website, and look for additional HPAC activities in 2016.

NANN8735 W. Higgins Road, Suite 300Chicago, IL 60631-2738800.451.3795 • 847.375.3660Fax 866.927.5321info@nann.org • www.nann.org

NANN Central™ (ISSN: 1544-3382) is published 3 times per year by the National Association of Neonatal Nurses, 8735 W. Higgins Road, Suite 300, Chicago, IL, 60631, and is distributed to members as a direct benefit of membership. A portion of this membership ($9) goes toward a subscription to this newsletter. Printed in the U.S.A. POSTMASTER: Send change of address orders to NANN Central ™, c/o National Association of Neonatal Nurses, 8735 W. Higgins Road, Suite 300, Chicago, IL, 60631-2738. © 2016 National Association of Neonatal Nurses. All rights reserved. Reproduction, distribution, or translation without express written permission is strictly prohibited. The statements and opinions expressed in articles and other materials herein are those of the authors or advertisers. NANN, the editors, and the publisher disclaim any responsibility for these materials. Information for authors is available from the NANN National Office. Payment for articles is in the form of complimentary copies only. Trademarks: Trademarked names are used in an editorial fashion to the benefit of the trademark owner, with no intention of infringement of the trademark.

NANN Central Content Reviewer: Maureen A. O’Reilly, MSN RNC NNP-BC

NANN Small Grants Submission Deadline March 1, 2016

Nurse in Washington Internship (NIWI)Washington, DC March 6–8, 2016

NANN’s 11th Annual Research SummitScottsdale, AZ April 5–7, 2016

20th Annual NICU Leadership ForumPonte Vedra, FL April 24–28, 2016

Abstract call opens for the NANN 33rd Annual Educational Conference July 1, 2016

Abstract call opens for the 12th Research Summit in 2017 July 15, 2016

NANN 32nd Annual Educational Conference Palm Springs, CA October 26–29, 2016

Abstract call closes for the NANN 33rd Annual Educational Conference November 1, 2016

Abstract call closes for NANN’s12th Research Summit in 2017 November 1, 2016

Look for chapter meeting dates at www.nann.org.

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