This year NANN became an organizational affiliate to the American Nurses Association (ANA) Congress on Nursing Practice and Economics (CNPE). As an organizational affiliate, NANN is now able to participate in ANA activities that help shape nursing practice throughout the United States. This is the first time neonatal nurses have had a voice at this level, offering a voice from the neonatal perspective.

At the September 2008 meeting of the ANA CNPE, Becky Patton, president of ANA, noted that 80% of nurses in the United States do not belong to a professional organization. She emphasized the importance of nurses joining together to raise a united voice to deal with nursing practice and legislative issues.

Of particular interest to neonatal advanced practice nurses were the discussions about the about the advanced practice registered nurse education consensus statement and a discussion on the doctor of nursing practice (DNP) degree as the entry-level degree for advanced practice nurses. A notable addition to the consensus statement was the delineation of the neonate as a population focus. This means that neonatal nurse practitioner education can be focused on the neonatal population, rather than education in general pediatrics, with neonatal specialty content added on to the basic education as originally proposed by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing. NANNP's activities played a significant role in this change.

Discussion of the DNP as the degree for entry into advanced practice was lengthy, with many concerns shared including those of neonatal nurses and program faculty. Polly Bednash, executive director of the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses, presented information on the DNP. The CNPE did pass 2 motions related to the DNP as the educational requirement for advanced practice nurses. It was emphasized that this is planning for the future so that nurses can have parity with other healthcare professionals. The motions were as follows:

1. Move to recommend the ANA board of directors support both research- and practice-focused doctoral education in nursing. (Approved)

2. Move the CNPE to develop a position statement to further refine ANA's position on doctoral education in nursing. (Approved)

NANN will continue to make the voice of neonatal nurses heard in this forum both as this position statement is shaped and in other activities of the ANA CNPE. If you wish to share your insight into issues related to these motions, or other issues addressed in the wider world of nursing, you can contact NANN at [email protected].