NANNcast

Join Martha and Paul Sharkey, Founders of Today is a Good Day, as they share the five key takeaways that every nurse and nurse practitioner can use to harness their unique superpowers when caring for families. Drawing from their deeply personal journey—including the premature births of their daughters Claire and Mary, the full‑term birth of their daughter Martha Rose, and the loss of their son William to Trisomy 18—the Sharkeys offer heartfelt insights on empathy, presence, resilience, and the small but powerful actions that make a lasting impact.

This episode inspires clinical teams to see the extraordinary influence they have in the NICU and beyond and highlights how compassionate care can strengthen families during their most vulnerable moments.

The Incubator Team is excited to bring Journal Club to NANNcast! For our first installment in this series, we are dividing into a landmark study on therapeutic hypothermia, a topic that is incredibly relevant to neonatal nurses who are at the heart of implementing and monitoring this intervention every day. 

In this episode, we discuss the recently published randomized clinical trial examining whole body hypothermia for infants born at 33 to 35 weeks' gestation with hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (HIE). This important research provides new insights that challenge current practice and helps us better understand which babies may benefit from or potentially be harmed by therapeutic hypothermia.

Join us as we break down the study findings, explore what they mean for bedside care, and discuss how this evidence should inform clinical decision-making for our most vulnerable pre-term patients.

Check out the article here: Whole-Body Hypothermia for Neonatal Encephalopathy in Preterm Infants 33 to 35 Weeks' Gestation: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) is one of the most challenging diagnoses in the NICU, demanding rapid decision-making, coordinated teamwork, and a deep understanding of physiology. In this episode of NANNcast, Jill is joined by Dr. Jamie Gilley to unpack the full clinical journey of CDH - from prenatal markers and imaging, to delivery room stabilization, ventilation strategies, pulmonary hypertension and sedation management, surgical repair, and long-term follow-up. Dr. Gilley shares practical bedside tips, current research, and insights that every neonatal nurse and APRN can apply to improve care and outcomes in this critically ill population. Whether you are new to CDH or experienced in managing these cases, this episode will deepen your understanding and confidence at the bedside. 

In this episode, neonatal nurses take center stage as leaders of practice change in the NICU. This podcast explores the Infant-Driven Feeding® (IDF™) Program and its impact on bedside care and unit culture. Lisa Kleinz, MA SLP/L CNT, Director of Education from Dr. Brown’s Medical, discusses the evidence-based benefits of IDF™ for infants, families, and care teams, while Renee Bloom, RN, shares her unit’s real-world experience implementing the program. Renee highlights key findings from her published research, lessons learned during implementation, strategies for gaining provider buy-in, and practical approaches to sustaining the key practices over time. Together, this conversation offers actionable insights for nurses looking to implement, strengthen, or sustain the Infant-Driven Feeding® Program and provide positive feeding experiences for babies and families.

In this episode of NANNcast, 'Vaccines, Trust, and Tiny Immune Systems,' Dr. Aimee Bernard and Dr. David Higgins dive into practical strategies for discussing vaccines with families in the NICU, clinic and community, building trust with hesitant parents, and addressing common concerns about immunization schedules. They explore why the Hepatitis B vaccine is recommended at birth, how a baby’s immune system is equipped to handle multiple vaccines, and the difference between natural infection and the guided protection vaccines provide. The conversation also highlights trusted resources for families, tips for evaluating information, and the vital role neonatal nurses play in vaccine education and advocacy. Tune in for expert insights, science communication strategies, and actionable takeaways to support informed vaccine decisions.

Neonatal resuscitation is evolving beyond the delivery room. In this episode, Dr. Beth Ann Johnson, Dr. Taylor Sawyer, and Dr. Chris Cooper discuss how the Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP) is expanding its scope through innovative new courses. Learn about updates for caring for newborns with congenital heart disease, unique considerations for resuscitation in the NICU, and how the new Neonatal Education for Prehospital Professionals (NEPP) course will extend life-saving skills to first responders and transport teams. 

Join Dr. Chris Cooper and Dr. Henry Lee as they discuss the science behind the NRP 9th Edition - what changed, why it changed, and how these updates influence neonatal resuscitation practice. Hear how new evidence informed guideline revisions, what teams can expect in training and implementation, and what these shifts mean for nurses and NNPs at the bedside.

Sweden leads the world in reducing neonatal mortality, at 1.8/1000 live births in 2021, and a 20% reduction in infant mortality over the last ten years. Listen in to hear Taryn Edwards, Dr. Media Esser, and Ashley Richardson talk about participating in a NANN delegation and lessons learned from Sweden. Highlights include: nursing education standards, advanced approaches to neonatal care, family-integrated care models, and evidence-based practices.

Today’s episode confronts a sobering reality: neonates are often an afterthought in drug development. Join leading experts Mary Short, Dr. Wakako Eklund, and Dr. Kanwaljit Singh as they shine a light on the critical gaps in neonatal drug research and what it means for nurses and APRNs at the bedside. 

You will learn why most medications used in the NICU are not specifically designed for newborns, how off-label use puts our most vulnerable patients at risk, and why FDA-approved, age-appropriate formulations are essential for safe and effective care. More importantly, we explore the crucial role that neonatal nurses play in this space, including the assurance of medication safety, influence of clinical trials and policy, and importance of parent education. 

Whether you recently learned about neonatal drug development or are ready to step into advocacy, this episode offers practical guidance on how to get involved and grow your impact through collaboration, storytelling, and leadership. 

Note that free CEU is available through NANN’s iLearn platform: “Bridging the Gap: Empowering Neonatal Nurses in Drug Development for Neonates.” 

Have you ever wondered how the Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP) guidelines are created—and more importantly, who decides what changes and why? In this episode, we take you behind the scenes of the science and collaboration that shape NRP. From the rigorous evidence review conducted by the International Liaison Committee on Resuscitation (ILCOR) to how these findings are translated into bedside practice, you will learn exactly how research becomes reality. 

Together, Dr. Gary Weiner and Amanda Williams break down the multi-layered process of evidence evaluation, guideline development, and educational translation, while highlighting the critical role nurses play in shaping the NRP used daily. Whether you are new to NRP or a seasoned instructor, this episode will inspire you to see the program through a whole new lens and recognize the power of your voice in shaping neonatal care. 

Discover why NRP is more than a textbook—it is a living, breathing, global collaboration grounded in science and strengthened by the people who use it.