Prioritize Developmental Care with these Education Products
NANN's educational products on developmental care equip neonatal nurses with the knowledge and skills needed to support the holistic growth and development of their tiniest patients. These resources emphasize the importance of creating an environment that promotes the physical, emotional, and neurological wellbeing of neonates. Developed by seasoned neonatal professionals, NANN's developmental care materials integrate the latest research and best practices. Validate what you’ve learned by earning NANN’s Neonatal Developmental Care Specialist designation, showcasing your ability to provide developmentally appropriate care and individualized, family-centered care.
Developmental Care of Newborns and Infants, 3rd Edition
Update and improve your neonatal and newborn intensive care unit (NICU) nursing know-how, with the evidence-based Developmental Care of Newborns and Infants, 3rd Edition. This leading text on developmentally supportive care of infants and their families addresses the full spectrum of neonatal care, from prenatal planning to delivery, plus neonatal intensive care and the transition to home.
The Developmental Care Self-Assessment (Free PDF)
Applicants seeking the Neonatal Developmental Care Specialist Designation (explained below) can use the Developmental Care Self-Assessment to assess how well they are integrating developmentally supportive caregiving into their routine practices in the NICU. Neonatal nurses can work toward achieving the "all the time" category in 80% of the answers for each of the four developmental care practice standards. Practicing at this level of integration bests supports successful completion of the Neonatal Development Care Specialist Designation exam.
Neonatal Developmental Care Specialist Designation
The Neonatal Developmental Care Specialist Designation offers clinicians with developmental care experience an opportunity to apply and assess their knowledge through a 100-item test that includes both cognitive assessment questions and scenario-based cases.
Neonatal professionals who pass the test―from NICU nurses to therapists are recognized with a certificate of completion as Neonatal Developmental Care Specialists. An 80% or greater score will earn the designation, which is valid for 2 years. Those who score less than 80% would need to repurchase the exam access to retake it.
Consider using the free Development Care Self-Assessment to know when you're ready to earn your specialist designation!
When your specialist designation is up for renewal you can renew it one of two ways:
Exam Renewal: Retake the online exam. Purchase the online exam renewal and score at least an 80% to successfully complete the renewal. This is the only renewal option if it has been more than 2 years since you received your specialist designation.
Manual Renewal: Submit proof of 20 contact hours of developmental care continuing education (CE). Pay paying the manual renewal fee and e-mail documentation of your certificates totaling the 20 contact hourse to NANN Education Department at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. if you have any questions.