NANNcast

Explore the updated perspective on APRN shift lengths and fatigue as host Jill Beck discusses the recently revised position statement from the National Association of Neonatal Nurse Practitioners (NANNP). Joined by former NANNP Council members and co-authors Taryn Edwards and Roxanne Stahl, this episode delves into the research behind the update and offers practical recommendations. Discover insights on navigating the delicate balance between patient safety and the well-being of APRNs. Learn about creating a healthier work environment to ensure the safety of both patients and APRNs. Gain essential knowledge for addressing the challenges of APRN shift lengths and fostering a positive, sustainable workplace.

Neonatal nurses and APRNs have all thought of how to design or develop products or technologies better than what is currently being utilized. How can we as NICU nurses and APRNs enter the world of product and technology development and engage stakeholders to innovate change? On this episode of NANNcast, Jill is joined by the leading clinical expert in industry, Dr. Karen Becker and nursing research scientist, Dr. Katherine Dudding to inspire you on how to move into action. 

This year NANN returns to Anaheim, CA for its 39th Annual Conference. Join us on today's episode with conference co-chairs Kristin Howard and Adrienne Isaacs for a peek into NANN's reimagined format that will leave you with maximized learning and networking time. Get excited for this year's powerful career-transforming additions like a new program format with keynotes starting Tuesday afternoon, the case of the year presentation in partnership with the Vermont Oxford Network, multidisciplinary advanced practice, and POCUS workshop preconference options, and finally exciting receptions, parties, and celebrations to facilitate meaningful community connections.  *The chapter leadership luncheon will not be held this year.

Working in the NICU is stressful. Then add on trying to balance work and life. In this episode, host Jill Beck connects with Eileen O'Grady, the keynote speaker from NANN's 2022 Annual Conference and author of Choosing Wellness: Unconventional Wisdom for the Overwhelmed, the Discouraged, the Addicted, the Fearful, or the Stuck. Jill and Eileen discuss the wellbeing of the health workforce, the need for self-care, and share tips on ways to form habits that will improve and cultivate a culture of wellness. Learn more about Eileen's work

Working in the NICU is stressful. Then add on trying to balance work and life. In this episode, host Jill Beck connects with Eileen O'Grady, the keynote speaker from NANN's 2022 Annual Conference and author of Choosing Wellness: Unconventional Wisdom for the Overwhelmed, the Discouraged, the Addicted, the Fearful, or the Stuck. Jill and Eileen discuss the wellbeing of the health workforce, the need for self-care, and share tips on ways to form habits that will improve and cultivate a culture of wellness. Learn more about Eileen's work

In honor of Mental Health Awareness month, host Jill Beck and Elizabeth McCutchon, EdD, MS, APRN, NNP-BC discuss the state of mental health, how the health care system has failed to support healthcare workers' mental health, and what we can do about it.

Nearly all newborns run the risk of respiratory difficulties at birth. In this episode, NANNcast host Jill Beck is joined by Katherine Newnam, PhD, RN, CPNP, NNP-BC, to discuss best practices for ventilator management, the best modes of ventilation for the infant, how to minimize damage and inflammation, and more. This is the next installment of NANNcast's APRN series, which covers trending topics in advanced practice neonatal nursing.

Carbon dioxide measurement is a fundamental measurement in the NICU.  It is essential to maintain CO2 levels within target levels to ensure positive outcomes.  Guest Chelsea Lee, Clinical Education Manager at Sentec, shares the benefits of transcutaneous CO2 monitoring technology not only our fragile patients, but in guiding clinical decisions and prompt interventions. 

Learn, lead, and level up with NANN in Las Vegas! NANN's 38th Annual Conference Committee Chair, Kristin Howard, DNP APRN NNP-BC, joins Jill Beck to discuss all the exciting educational and networking offerings at NANN in Vegas.    Register at nann.org/conference

NANNcast host Jill Beck is joined by the authors of NANN's medication safety position statement to discuss safe medication practices in the NICU and how nurses can advocate for safer standards and conditions. NANN recommends a comprehensive approach to medication safety in the NICU that integrates technology, focused healthcare provider medication safety education, standardized medication process, and robust medication error reporting and prevention efforts. Medication Safety in the NICU Position Statement. 

The International Neonatal Consortium (INC) is a global collaboration formed to forge a predictable regulatory path for evaluating the safety and effectiveness of therapies for neonates. Wakako Eklund, NNP, NANN member, and INC liaison, joins Jill Beck to discuss how nurses can promote safe NICU research. INC Communications Toolkit for Nurses The culture of research communication in neonatal intensive care units: key stakeholder perspectives   

Research shows that parents whose babies are hospitalized in the NICU experience trauma, stress, and the loss of their role as primary caregiver due to their time in the NICU. NICU nurses play a crucial role in providing family-centered care to support and empower NICU parents. Nicole Nyberg is a neonatal nurse practitioner and the founder of Empowering NICU Parents, an organization that provides educational resources for parents with babies in the NICU. With her unique perspective as an NNP who also had a child in the NICU, she shares simple, yet impactful ways to engage and empower parents during their baby's NICU stay. Empowering NICU Parents Empowering NICU Parents Podcast

Understaffing puts patients at increased risk of missed or rationed care, medical incidents, disparities of care, and morbidity and mortality. In September 2021, NANN released the RN Staffing in the NICU position statement with staffing recommendations based on the acuity of the population served. Dr. Lori Armstrong and Karen Kopischke, the authors of the position statement, join Jill Beck on NANNcast to breakdown the position statement and share how nurses can advocate for safe staffing in their units.    Read NANN's RN Staffing in the NICU position statement here.

NANNcast host Jill Beck and neonatal nurse and health equity leader Shelly Frisco discuss the detail behind the health disparity data, the impact of these inequities on mother and baby outcomes, and steps all neonatal nurses can take to advocate for and create change. Access the literature cited in this episode here. 

Welcome to the first installment of NANNcast's new APRN series! The NANNcast APRN series covers trending topics in advanced practice neonatal nursing. On the first episode of the series, Bobby Bellflower, DNSc NNP-BC FAANP, and Michele Savin, DNP APRN NNP-BC, join Jill to discuss the national NNP shortage. Bobby and Michele discuss the NNP shortage and its impact on other roles in the NICU, share why they love advanced practice neonatal nursing, and provide resources for emerging neonatal nurse practitioners.    The National Association of Neonatal Nurse Practitioners

Tiffany Moore returns to NANNcast for another research series episode! Tiffany, Jill Beck, Dr. Jenene Craig, and Dr. Sue Hall come together on this episode to explore how interdisciplinary research teams function in the NICU. They share their approach to gathering a multidisciplinary team, setting goals for each discipline, and working together to achieve the desired outcomes and provide the best care. 

Nearly all newborns run the risk of respiratory difficulties at birth. Premature babies often experience breathing problems due to underdeveloped lungs. Collaboration with respiratory therapists in the NICU is key for mitigating respiratory challenges. Respiratory therapists support many NICU operations, such as resuscitating in the delivery room or training nurses on proper ET tube placement. Hear NANNcast host Jill Beck and respiratory therapist Kim Ghebleh discuss how neonatal nurses and respiratory therapists can collaborate to improve patient outcomes in the NICU. 

How can NICU nurses provide developmentally appropriate sensory exposures and better understand  how factors such as the environment, medical conditions, and interventions on brain structure affect infants' long-term outcomes? NANNcast host Jill Beck is joined by Sue Ludwig, neonatal therapist and founder of the National Association of Neonatal Therapists to discuss how NICU nurses and neonatal therapists can collaborate to improve neurodevelopmental outcomes. Keep an eye out for Sue Ludwig's book, Tiny Humans, Big Lessons: How the NICU Taught Me to Live with Energy, Intention, and Purpose, coming March 2022! 

NANNcast host Jill Beck is thrilled to welcome NANN's Annual Conference Committee Chair, Rebecca Buchholz and Chair-Elect, Kristin Howard to NANNcast! They'll share all the details about the fabulous lineup of education, late-breaking sessions and networking experiences in store for all attendees and NANN Fans next month at the annual conference, September 13-15, 2021. Get all the must-attend and don't-miss details right here, straight from the leaders who have planned what's sure to be NANN's most informative and exciting event yet!

All NICU nurses understand the importance of human milk for vulnerable neonates. How do we support NICU families and mitigate the challenges associated with increasing rates of human milk in the COVID era? To discuss these issues, Jill Beck is joined by Dr. Diane Spatz, a leading nurse scientist in human milk. Dr. Spatz is an internationally recognized lactation professor, researcher, and clinician, and has developed a 10-step model for human milk and breastfeeding, which has been implemented in NICUs worldwide. Tune in to hear the 10-step model, as well as the latest expert guidance on breastfeeding in a pandemic, disparities in access to human milk, and the future of lactation education.

On this episode of NANNcast, Jill is joined by Sheila Gephart, a nurse scientist, Advances in Neonatal Care editorial board member, and associate professor at the University of Arizona. Sheila worked with babies diagnosed with necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) as a bedside nurse. This experience led to her fascination and dedication to NEC research and prevention. Listen in to hear about Sheila’s research, GutCheck NEC, and how nurses can help prevent NEC. Please note: NANNcast strives to produce the highest quality recording to ensure a positive experience for all listeners. We apologize for the background static from minute 1:45 – 6:09.   Check out NEC-Zero and GutCheck NEC at https://neczero.nursing.arizona.edu/

On this episode of Nurse Scientists, Jill, Media, and Tiffany are joined by Amy D’Agata and Stephanie Abbu to discuss NANN's Research Summit! NANN's Research Summit, sponsored by Mead Johnson Nutrition, is an opportunity for neonatal nurses of all backgrounds to showcase their research, network, receive mentoring, and be supported by a community of passionate nurse scientists. Amy and Stephanie walk through their experiences at the summit and what participation has meant to them. Jill, Media, Tiffany, Amy, and Stephanie hope that listeners will be motivated to start their research journey and inspired to participate in the 2022 Research Summit. All you need is one burning question to get started! Learn more about NANN's Research Summit at http://nann.org/education/research/research-summit

Jill Beck is joined by Gail Bagwell, NANN President and editor of NANN’s Newborn Safe Sleep Guideline, to discuss safe sleep. Jill and Gail start by clarifying the difference between sudden unexpected infant death (SUID) and sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) before diving into the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommendations for safe sleep. NICU nurses are instrumental in role modeling and educating parents on safe sleep. Listen in to learn how you can advocate for safe sleep environments in the hospital and after discharge. Check out NANN’s Newborn Safe Sleep Guideline on www.nann.org/store, the only clinical practice guideline that addresses the challenges of implementing safe sleep practices in the hospital setting, and includes recommendations on how to do so effectively for children 1-month and 1-year of age.

Nurses are known to be compassionate, caring, and committed to their patients. These same nurses can sometimes be harsh and uncaring toward their colleagues. In this episode, Jill and Beth Bolick address incivility and bullying in the NICU. Beth, Professor at Rush University Medical Center College of Nursing, is a national speaker on the topic of bullying and incivility. There are a variety of ways incivility and bullying seep into the NICU - from gossip, teasing, eye-rolling, withholding business information, to even physical altercations. Beth and Jill dive into how bullying goes beyond the dyad of just two colleagues and impacts your entire unit and even direct patient care. Listen in to learn more about how to create a unit that is more civil and welcoming to colleagues and patient families alike.  Visit http://stopbullyingtoolkit.org/ for some of the free resources Beth discusses. 

In this installment of Nurse Scientists, Jill, Media, and Tiffany speak with Leslie Parker on the vital role of bedside nurses in areas of research. Leslie is chair of NANN’s Research Institute Steering Council (RISC), a NNP at UF Health, and an assistant professor at the College of Nursing and College of Medicine at the University of Florida. Together Jill, Media, Tiffany, and Leslie dive into how integral bedside nurses are to neonatal research and driving change within the profession. Listeners will learn more about the importance of starting research, the resources NANN has to help, and the inspiring research Leslie is conducting. 

Every NICU nurse will encounter a newborn or infant with complex surgical anomalies. Understanding the unique needs of surgical neonates is important as nurses anticipate their delivery, stabilization, and possible transport to a surgical NICU. In this episode, host Jill Beck discusses with Taryn Edwards and Melissa Powell, both surgical neonatal nurse practitioners, some of the most common surgical anomalies ranging from esophageal atresia (EA), tracheoesophageal fistula (TEF), abdominal wall defects, pulmonary hypoplasia, and congenital diaphragmatic hernia. Listen in to learn more about these anomalies and how to best support both infants and their families.

Conducting research can sound daunting, especially to a bedside nurse with no formal research training. In the first episode of NANNcast’s limited series, Nurse Scientists, hosts Jill Beck and Media Esser sit down with chair of the Small Grants Committee, Amy Koehn, and fellow committee member and former small grant recipient, Ashlee Vance, to discuss how NANN’s Small Grants Program supports the novice nurse researcher. Together Jill, Media, Amy, and Ashlee hope to demystify some of the anxieties nurses have around starting their own research. Listen in to better understand the difference between research and evidence-based practice projects and how all you need is a burning question and some passion to embark on your own research journey! If you are interested in learning more about NANN’s Small Grants Program and submitting an application, please visit the NANN website. http://nann.org/education/research/small-grants

Neonatal neurocritical care is dedicated to addressing the potential impact and complications of injury on the developing brain. Early recognition of at risk newborns by means of advanced methods of neuro imaging combined with brain focused interventions may result in the prevention or reduction of life long disabilities. Many neonatal nurses care for patients that require advanced neuro imaging, but have little training in how to interpret neuro imaging. Jill is joined by two experts in neonatal neurology, Kathi Randall, MSN NNP-BC and Diane Wilson, MN NP-Paeds NNP-BC. Together Jill, Kathi, and Diane discuss advanced imaging technologies like MRI, how nurses can better interpret neuro imaging results, and how to support families whose baby requires neuro imaging.

Jill is joined by Carol Wallman, DNP APRN NNP-BC, lead author of NANN’s position statement Marijuana, Breastfeeding, and the Use of Human Milk. Jill and Carol dive into the position statement, which recommends women abstain from marijuana consumption during pregnancy and while breastfeeding. Listen in to learn more about the research surrounding marijuana and breastfeeding along with recommendations for how to support mothers that are using marijuana while breastfeeding.  Read NANN’s official position statement and infographic on Marijuana, Breastfeeding, and the Use of Human Milk at nann.org/about/position-statements.  

Jill is joined by Stacy Boden, CPNP APNP, who has dedicated time to studying and advancing the model of Eat, Sleep, Console (ESC) in her institutions. ESC, a model for treating Neonatal Opioid Syndrome, is used as an alternative to the traditional Finnegan Neonatal Abstinence Scoring System model. ESC has been praised for its family-centered approach, use of non-pharmacological interventions, and success with treating babies. Listen in as Jill and Stacy discuss ESC in depth, Stacy’s success with ESC, and how your hospital might value from implementing ESC.

Research drives the practice of nursing and is vital for propelling the profession into the future. NANN strives to provide avenues for members to become more active in accessing, understanding, conducting, and practicing research and evidence-based neonatal care. During this episode, Jill speaks with Dr. Media Esser, current Director-at-Large on NANN’s Board of Directors, and Dr. Tiffany Moore, Chair of NANN’s Research Committee, to discuss the ways NANN supports nursing research. We hope the conversation inspires all nurses to have the confidence to move forward with their own research journey.  Learn more about NANN’s dedication to research by visiting http://nann.org/education/research

From Monday, September 14th through Sunday, September 20th, 2020, NANN is celebrating Neonatal Nurses Week. This weeklong celebration is a time to honor nurse colleagues and show pride in being a neonatal nurse or neonatal APRN. In this celebratory episode, Jill is joined by Tommie Farrell, Kelly Roebuck, and Melanie Crisafulli – three NICU nurses at various stages of their careers. Together Jill, Tommie, Kelly, and Melanie share advice, lessons learned, and their love for neonatal nursing. We hope listeners of this NANNcast episode feel inspired, supported, and proud to be a neonatal nurse not only during Neonatal Nurses Week, but always! 

Jill Beck is joined by Laura Czernik, MA CCC/SLP, a speech language pathologist from Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, to discuss how beneficial speech language pathologists can be in the NICU. Speech language pathologists are not present in every NICU, but their services can impact developmental outcomes relating to communication, cognition, swallowing, and feeding in babies. Jill and Laura dive into how Laura promotes safe and efficient feeding and swallowing in some of the most fragile patients. Listen in as they discuss cue-based feeding versus volume-based feeding, nipple flow rates, tips for units that do not have access to speech language pathologists, and much more.   

NANN believes in the equality of all human beings despite race, gender, sexual identity, or creed. While we believe all babies should receive the same excellent quality of care, the data shows that race and unconscious bias affect the care and outcomes of patients in the NICU. In this episode of NANNcast, Jill sits down with NANN’s President, Joan Rikli, to discuss data relating to racial and health disparity in the NICU, steps NANN is taking to address racial disparity, and how nurses can drive change in their NICU. Jill and Joan are also joined by Nicole Dixon, Nurse Manager at Atrium Health, for an open, candid conversation on Nicole’s experience as an African-American NICU nurse. While we can’t provide listeners with all the answers, NANNcast is proud to help get the conversation on racial and health inequality started with listeners, as we strive to help create better outcomes for our patients and families.  

The use of Kratom and CBD by expectant mothers is a continued subject of study as we seek to understand the effects that these substances may have on babies. Host Jill Beck is joined by Maureen Shogan, MN RNC, to discuss these substances in detail. Maureen is currently the Clinical Director for a National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) project on developing Neonatal Abstinence curriculum for mobile devices. Listen along to familiarize yourself with Kratom and CBD, and how these substances may impact mothers and babies in your NICU or Mother Baby Unit. This NANNcast episode was recorded 7/21/2020.

Gut health is critical in early life as it assists with growth, neurodevelopment, and drives the immune system. Diving into the importance of gut health, host Jill Beck is joined by Katherine Gregory, PhD RN FAAN, who has devoted her research to understanding preterm gut health and the microbiome. Dr. Gregory started out as a staff nurse with a drive to develop early markers of necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC). Her questions and persistence led her to mentorships, advanced schooling, and the opportunity to conduct vital research on the gut and microbiome. Listen along to hear more about Dr. Gregory’s journey, research, and hope for creating a vital sign for the gut.

In May of 2020, NANN released a joint position statement with the National Perinatal Association titled Mothers with COVID-19 and Their Newborn Infants. In this episode, Jill is joined by the author of the position statement, Tiffany Moore, PhD RN, to expand on the unique challenge of creating a culture of shared decision making between the mother and clinical team during the COVID-19 pandemic. Tiffany, whose research focuses on reducing chronic stress in mom and baby, will guide listeners through how to best support parents and babies during these stressful times.  

The NICU can be a scary place for any parent, and the COVID-19 pandemic is bringing new levels of uncertainty when it comes to having an infant in the NICU. Research is recognizing that the fear, stress, and anxiety parents carry throughout their child’s stay in the NICU can manifest itself into post-traumatic stress. Jill is joined by Dr. Katie Malin, a neonatal nurse practitioner at Children’s Wisconsin who has focused her research on perinatal post-traumatic stress disorder and its relationship to uncertainty. Jill and Katie discuss how nurses can help identify and support parents experiencing uncertainty surrounding their ill infant, with the hope of creating better family outcomes.

Advocating for patients, families, and fellow nurses is a vital part of the nursing role. Jill is joined by Jennifer Canvasser, founder and director of the NEC Society, to discuss advocacy and awareness both inside and outside the NICU. It is the hope of this NANNcast episode to inspire nurses everywhere to not only advocate for Necrotizing Enterocolitis (NEC) prevention and treatment, but for the general safety and health of the broader NICU community as well. Listen in to learn about the NEC Society and visit necsociety.org for more information. Join us in celebrating NEC Awareness Day on May 17.

In healthcare institutions all over the world, nurses like you are using your ingenuity, creativity and expertise to help the world manage the current healthcare crisis. NANNcast would like to include your voice in an upcoming celebratory episode that highlights the good things happening amidst these challenging times. Share your uplifting stories in a 1-2-minute voicemail to NANNcast to be included in an upcoming episode. Voicemails should not include any patient information or institution names, but can include your name and where you are from. It just takes a minute to share your thoughts or stories to help lift up our entire neonatal nursing community! Call 847-701-4313 and leave your message for NANNcast today!

Host Jill Beck speaks with Dr. Christine A. Fortney, the Advances in Neonatal Care guest editor, and assistant professor at The Ohio State University College of Nursing, to discuss the Journal’s upcoming special series on palliative care. Often misunderstood by both health professionals and families, palliative care has become synonymous with end of life care – a limited definition that does not contain the full scope of palliative care. Dr. Fortney covers how to appropriately define palliative care, explains benefits of palliative care, and discusses the perspectives of both health professionals and parents when it comes to having patients in a palliative care program.Are you an international listener? New members from outside the United States or Canada can join NANN for only $100 before April 15, 2020. Visit nann.org/CAST to learn more and join NANN. 

What makes music therapy so vital in the NICU? This episode of NANNcast explores how to utilize music therapy in ways that are healing for both patients and families. Host Jill Beck sits down with Laura Cerulli, a music therapist out of Nemours/Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children, to discuss the power of sound, voice, song and how our tiniest patients can benefit from music therapy.

Positive sensory experiences are vital for promoting optimal neurodevelopmental outcomes. That’s why Baby Bookworms, a NICU reading program that focuses on language nutrition, aims to provide positive experiences for NICU babies during the early, most delicate period of neurodevelopment. Sarah Bakke, BSN RNC-NIC of Nemours/Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children joins Jill Beck, the host of NANNCast, to discuss the importance of language nutrition and how the Baby Bookworms program was implemented.

Host Jill Beck, MSN RNC-NIC is joined by Jennifer O’Malley, BSN RNC-NIC of Nemours/Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children. In NANNcast’s first episode, Jill and Jennifer explore strategies for optimizing neurodevelopmental outcomes by treating every NICU as a Neuro NICU. Dive into how a strong neurodevelopmental program is essential for improving long term outcomes of NICU patients.

Brought to you by the National Association of Neonatal Nurses, NANNcast was designed to introduce listeners to hot topics in Neonatology, with the hope of creating better patient outcomes. Guests on NANNcast will share their advice, tips, and expertise to better inform neonatal nurses, industry partners, and families of NICU patients.