If you attended the Special Topic Call last week, or have watched it since, you heard Dana Fern speak about how incredibly important NANT is for her and for all neonatal therapists. We laughed, saying that one day we’ll be the ‘old women’ who keep saying, “You young people are so lucky to have this…when WE started in the NICU we were completely alone.” And the funny thing is, that’s still the most prominent type of email I receive from you as a group. “There’s no one else around to ask…”, or “I didn’t receive any real mentoring in the NICU…so can you tell me…”
And the results of the NANT survey (that we’ll share at the conference) will confirm how many of you were self-taught. Or you’re like me and had great mentoring initially but then were left to figure it out alone for several years without a lifeline or professional collaboration.
The most exciting part of this is that the isolation is over. It’s simply over.
And the avenues for mentoring and education are better than ever.
The longer-term excitement stems from the fact that neonatal therapists have strong convictions about how some aspects of care could vastly improve in the NICU. These convictions are made clear through your emails, mentoring call questions and Professional Support Network posts. You’re frustrated and ready for change.
And now that we’re a group, we can work on these issues together. There is power in this group. The kind that comes with specialized knowledge, experience and our unique viewpoint.
Shortly, there will be more ways to be involved with NANT at a higher level. We’re going to put your passion to work and fuel change in our little corner of the world.
Stay tuned. We’re just getting started!
