NANN's Awards Program

Is there someone who has inspired you, perhaps on a daily basis, to be all that you can be? Is there a person who mentors you or sets the bar for standards for quality patient care? What colleague of yours deserves peer recognition for enthusiasm, knowledge, or a willingness to unselfishly devote his or her time? Maybe your chapter deserves recognition for its efforts to raise money for a March of Dimes walk, to host a conference, or to conduct a membership drive.
If you have answered yes to any of these questions, please take time to nominate a deserving colleague and take pride in knowing that award recipients honor you and your profession. Start thinking now about nominees for the award categories listed below:

• Robyn Main Excellence in Clinical Practice Award: Any NANN member can nominate a Robyn Main candidate to recognize and encourage excellence in direct patient care.  (This award is sponsored by Draeger Medical, Inc.)
• Leadership Award: Open to any NANN member  in a leadership role, the purpose of this award is to encourage excellence in leadership. 
• Navigator Award: The Navigator Award will go to a NANN member who consistently demonstrates the power of mentoring as a force for decreasing turnover rates, fostering camaraderie, and for the positive growth and development of new nurses into the specialty of neonatal nursing.
• Chapter of the Year and Individual Chapter Project Awards: Chapters "self-nominate" so don't be modest! There is one recipient of the Chapter of the Year Award, which recognizes a group's overall accomplishments. Five other Individual Project Awards are offered for chapter communications, community service, educational offerings, fundraising, and membership recruitment and retention.
• NNP Excellence Award - Awarded by the National Association of Neonatal Nurse Practitioners (NANNP), the purpose of this award is to recognize a neonatal nurse practitioner who advances the mission and vision of NANNP through exemplary practice, leadership, service, and education. Applicants must be NANNP members and actively practicing neonatal nurse practitioners.

The submission deadline is June 1. Don't miss your chance to honor a colleague or your chapter!

Recipient History

2009 Award Recipients

Lifetime Achievement in Neonatal Nursing Award Charles Rait, MSEd BSN RN PNC, has a long-standing commitment to neonatal nursing, which led him in 1984 to identify a group of nurses with the skills and the interest to form an association exclusively for neonatal nurses and neonatal nurse practitioners. This vision led to the creation of the National Association of Neonatal Nurses (NANN) and the association's first journal, with Chuck as its first executive director. By offering the publication nationally, Chuck established the foundation that NANN was built on, ahd his contributions to the field not only improved the quality of care for neonates but also advanced neonatal nursing practice. Chuck’s lifelong passion has been to strengthen and support the profession of neonatal nursing, for which he was honored at the 25th anniversary celebration in Austin.

Distinguished Service Award Robin Bissinger, PhD RNC NNP, director of graduate education, associate professor, and NNP program director at the Medical University of South Carolina, has served NANN over the years in many capacities, including as president and as chair of the NANNP Council. In 2007, Robin was instrumental in founding the National Association of Neonatal Nurse Practitioners (NANNP), which is dedicated to the support, education, and advancement of the neonatal nurse practitioner. Since NANNP’s inception, Robin has been an extraordinary and visionary leader, guiding the foundling association in its growth to a membership of nearly 1,000 and spearheading many important initiatives. Robin is an inspiration to innumerable neonatal nurses and nurse practitioners. Her tireless advocacy at the state, regional, and national levels has had an important impact on establishing and maintaining excellence in NNP practice and education.

Leadership Award Mary Ellen Honeyfield, MS RNC NNP, was one of the first neonatal nurse practitioners in the United States and was instrumental in establishing the first neonatal nurse practitioner program in Denver through the Children’s Hospital in collaboration with the University of Colorado. Mary Ellen served on the board of directors of the National Certification Corporation for 9 years and has been a NANN member since 1993. She is coeditor of the book Physical Assessment of the Newborn. Mary Ellen is currently an NNP at HCA Presbyterian/St. Luke’s Medical Center in Denver, CO. In addition, her business, NNP Services of Colorado, consults with other hospitals and employs and mentors NNPs in several states. Mary Ellen’s nominator says, “Mary Ellen has been an outstanding leader and advocate for neonatal nursing and for neonatal nurse practitioners for the past 36 years. . . . Whether [in her capacity] as a teacher, employer, or author, her mission is that our patients get the best care that we can give.”

Neonatal Nurse Practitioner Excellence Award Patricia J. Johnson, DNP MPH RN NNP, is a nationally recognized leader, educator, consultant, speaker, and expert in neonatal care. She was instrumental in the development of the neonatal nurse practitioner (NNP) role, building one of the first NNP teams in a Level III nursery, and later developed an NNP certificate program at state and private universities. She has authored and coauthored published articles, modules, and chapters on topics in neonatal care, including chapters in two editions of the Perinatal Guidelines. She is a founder, past president, and board member of the National Association of Neonatal Nurses (NANN) and a charter member of the National Association of Neonatal Nurse Practitioners (NANNP). She is currently an NNP at Maricopa Integrated Health System/MMC and at Neonatology Associates, Inc., in Phoenix, AZ.

Chapter of the Year The Southeastern Michigan Association of Neonatal Nurses (SMANN), which celebrated its 17th anniversary in 2008, has consistently maintained a high degree of enthusiasm and quality programs over the years. From its impressive list of community service projects to its educational programs, conferences, and continuing education offerings and its Web site, e-mail discussion group, and newsletter, SMANN offers its members valuable programs and benefits. This year the chapter has met and exceeded its high standard, as demonstrated by its many accomplishments and extensive member participation.

Individual Chapter Project Awards
Chapter Communications:Central California Association of Neonatal Nurses
Community Service:Delaware Valley Association of Neonatal Nurses
Educational Offerings:Delaware Valley Association of Neonatal Nurses
Fundraising Efforts:Delaware Valley Association of Neonatal Nurses
Membership Recruitment and Retention:Delaware Valley Association of Neonatal Nurses