Suzanne Staebler, DNP, APRN, associate professor and neonatal nurse practitioner specialty coordinator at Emory’s Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing, will receive the 2015 Excellence Award from the National Association of Neonatal Nurses (NANN) at their 31st Annual Educational Conference.   

NANN is an organization that aims to shape neonatal nursing through excellence in practice, education, research and professional development.  The NNP Excellence Award honors outstanding contributions by a neonatal nurse practitioner to the field of neonatal nursing through exemplary practice, leadership, service and education.  A neonatal nurse practitioner since 1992, Staebler is widely recognized as a pioneer for guiding policy development and implementation at both nursing and advanced practice nursing levels.

Staebler provided a platform for Neonatal Nurse Practitioners to be designated as an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse Practitioner specialty population, encompassing critical, acute and primary care of infants.  She has also developed quality improvement and quality/productivity metric measurement tools to enhance NNP practice and patient outcomes. 

"Dr. Staebler is most deserving of this very prestigious recognition," says Linda McCauley, PhD, RN, dean and professor of the Emory School of Nursing.  "Her tireless efforts and achievements in the development of neonatal nurse practitioner education, policy, and most importantly, patient outcomes are a true testament to her value and contributions to the field of nursing." 

The conference and award recognition will take place on October 23 in Dallas, Texas.