Professional Development Products

NANN's Professional Development products support the novice nurse, nurses in orientation, and nurse mentors and mentees.

Competencies & Orientation Toolkit for Neonatal Nurse Practitioners, 2nd Edition

This toolkit aims to establish consistent expectations concerning competencies for NNPs at varying levels and to provide a method of evaluating competence in order to assure the public that the NNP possesses the knowledge, skill, and clinical judgment required for providing safe, effective care.

Precepting the Advanced Practice Nurse: From Expert RN to Novice NNP

Precepting the Advanced Practice Nurse is an immediate access, downloadable and invaluable guide for those engaged in precepting neonatal nurse practitioners. It discusses current theories and published evidence on the teaching and learning experience and offers practical examples and tools that will enhance the quality of preceptorships for both preceptor and preceptee.

Membership Has Its Benefits: The Role of Professional Organizations in Cultivating Leadership Skills

In this webinar, 2018-2020 NANN President Joan Rikli presents the benefits of professional membership and how belonging to NANN can serve as an asset to your professional growth. Learn about the many resources that NANN offers its members and opportunities to volunteer where your leadership skills can be honed and applied. You'll also hear about Joan's own experience in growing in leadership to become the president of NANN.

Transitioning into a Leadership Role: Successes and Challenges

The absence of an adequate, consistent leadership pipeline has been cited as a key challenge in nursing today. Strong leadership is critical if the vision of a transformed health care system is to be realized. Presented by Pam Spivey, this webinar will explore opportunities in leadership development available to participants through active engagement in the National Association of Neonatal Nurses and beyond.

Certification Resources

Core Curriculum for Neonatal Intensive Care Nursing, 6th Ed

This publication provides in-depth coverage of common neonatal disorders and management and highlights the essentials of each condition including definition, etiology, pathophysiology, signs and symptoms, diagnostic tests, treatments, and outcomes.

Neonatal Developmental Care Specialist Designation

Visit the Neonatal Developmental Care Products page for more information and available resources, please visit this page.

Neonatal Developmental Care Specialist Designation Exam

The Neonatal Developmental Care Specialist Designation offers clinicians with developmental care experience an opportunity to apply and assess their knowledge through the completion of a 100-item test. The test includes both cognitive assessment questions and scenario-based cases. Those passing the test are recognized with a certificate of completion. The intended audience for the specialist designation is all neonatal healthcare professionals, including, but not limited to, nurses and therapists.

Neonatal Developmental Care Specialist Designation Renewal

If your specialist designation is up for renewal you have two options to renew! Retake the online test or submit proof of 20 contact hours of developmental care CNE.

Neonatal Developmental Care Specialist Designation Renewal Exam

You can purchase the online exam renewal to retake the exam at the end of your renewal window. An 80%+ must be obtained to successfully complete the renewal. If 80%+ is not obtained, you must repurchase and retake the online exam.

Neonatal Developmental Care Specialist Designation (Manual Renewal)

Renew your designation by submitting 20 contact hours and paying the manual renewal fee. Once you have submitted payment, please e-mail NANN Education Department at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., with documentation of your certificates totaling the 20 contact hours. NOTE: If it has been more than 2 years since obtaining your designation, exam re-take is required.