NANNcast

What if one nurse's observation could transform the way families experience healthcare? In this episode, Dr. Samantha Sobie, Neonatal Nurse Practitioner and Clinical Specialist at AngelEye Health, shares how a simple concern about NICU discharge education evolved into a doctoral project focused on improving health literacy and empowering families. Together, Jill and Dr. Sobie explore why health literacy matters, the unique role nurses play as educators and advocates, and how innovation and technology can improve patient outcomes. Whether you are a bedside nurse, healthcare leader, or student, this conversation is a reminder that meaningful change often begins with one person willing to ask, "Can we do better?".

Neonatal advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) play a critical role in delivering high-quality, evidence-based care to vulnerable newborns and their families. In this episode, Jill is joined by APRNs Gail Bagwell, Scott Duncan, and Meredith Farmer to explore the unique contributions of neonatal APRNs, the challenges facing the specialty, and the importance of advocacy at the bedside, within healthcare systems, and at the policy level. They discuss strategies to increase awareness of the neonatal APRN role, promote workforce sustainability, and ensure that these highly skilled clinicians have a voice in shaping the future of neonatal care. Whether you are a student, practicing clinician, educator, or healthcare leader, this conversation highlights why advocacy is essential for advancing both the profession and outcomes for our smallest patients.

In this episode of NANNcast, Jill is joined by Michelle M. Kelly, PhD, CRNP, FAANP to explore the lifelong health implications of prematurity. The conversation emphasizes the important role that NICU nurses and APRNs play, not only in providing exceptional care in the NICU but also in preparing families for life after the NICU. Dr. Kelly shares practical strategies for family education, discharge counseling, and long-term follow-up, helping nurses empower parents with the knowledge and resources they need as their child grows. Join us as we explore why prematurity is more than a neonatal diagnosis - it is the beginning of a lifelong journey.

When neonates present with unexplained or persistent symptoms, time is critical. In this episode, Jill is joined by Dr. Linda Genen, MD, MPH, neonatologist, and Chief Medical Officer at GeneDx as she explains how rapid genome sequencing can support earlier genetic diagnosis, reduce diagnostic uncertainty, and change the trajectory of care for infants in the NICU.

In this episode, Dr. Jessica Daigle explores why psychological safety is essential in the NICU - for both healthcare professionals and families. She discusses how trust, communication, and emotional support shape team dynamics, family experiences, and patient care, while also highlighting early signs of burnout and compassion fatigue. Listeners will walk away with practical, realistic strategies to foster resilience, strengthen connection, and create a more compassionate NICU environment. 

Join Dr. William L. Hull, DNP, APRN, NNP-BC, as we explore how neonatal developmental care shapes outcomes for infants and families. From individualized, cue-based care and family-centered practices to teaching strategies, measurable outcomes, and essential resources, this episode highlights how small, intentional actions can transform care at the bedside.

We will also share updates on NANN's Developmental Care Specialist Designation (DCSD) - learn more about NANN's DCSD offering here: Developmental Care Expertise for Your Entire NICU Care Team.

Infants today are being born into a polycrisis of climate change, environmental exposures, and widening health inequities. In this special NANNcast episode, we dive into the Advances in Neonatal Care (ANC) environmental health special series with Section Editor Desi Newberry and nurse scientists Jennifer Russell and Stephanie Lapsley. Together, they explore how environmental disasters affect neonatal health. From disrupted infant feeding during times of disaster to contaminated drinking water, environmental polycrises exacerbate health inequities - affecting maternal and infant health outcomes. This episode also highlights how neonatal nurses can lead solutions through clinical practice, research, community engagement, and policy advocacy. 

To learn more about this topic, access the January/February issue of ANC here: https://journals.lww.com/advancesinneonatalcare/pages/currenttoc.aspx.

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.