2026 Perinatal Grand Rounds Webinar Series

Innovating Newborn Care: A Neonatal APP Led Birth Center and Enhanced Care Nursery Model

The American Academy of Pediatrics has defined levels of neonatal care. One of the challenges for hospitals is how to address the needs of infants born between 32 and 35 weeks’ gestation. Following the guidelines may result in unnecessary transfers and infant/parent separation, but not following the guidelines could result in neonatal complications. This presentation describes how one facility developed an enhanced care nursery model that utilized neonatal nurse practitioners who possessed the requisite education and skills to provide care for infants between 32 and 35 weeks’ gestation. The goal of the program is to provide appropriate care to infants and decrease transports to facilities providing a higher level of care.

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Patrick Jones - Course author
Meet the instructor

Kathryn Mercado, DNP, APRN, NNP-BC

Dr. Mercado is the lead neonatal nurse practitioner at HealthPartners – Hudson Hospital and Clinics and an Assistant Professor and coordinator of the Neonatal Nurse Practitioner (NNP) program at St. Catherine University. Her clinical background spans the full continuum of neonatal care from Level I nurseries through Level IV NICUs and outpatient developmental follow-up programs.

 

The speaker has no relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies.*

Patrick Jones - Course author
Meet the instructor

Whitney Peterson, MSN, RN

Whitney Peterson earned a Master of Science degree in Nursing Leadership and Administration and is the Director of Women’s Center Services at Hudson Hospital. She has 10 plus years leading multidisciplinary teams across perinatal, acute, and critical care settings. In her current role, she specializes in clinical operations, workforce development, and aligning nursing practice with system goals.

 

The speaker has no relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies.*

Learning Outcomes

At the conclusion of this activity, participants will be able to:
  • Describe an APP-led well newborn care model.
  • Describe current literature on APP-led newborn care.
  • Explain the purpose of an Enhanced Care Nursery.
  • Identify practical implementation strategies.


Accreditation Statement

Continuing Medical Education

The Wisconsin Association for Perinatal Care (WAPC) is accredited by the Wisconsin Medical Society to provide continuing medical education for physicians. The Wisconsin Association for Perinatal Care (WAPC) designates this internet enduring material for a maximum of 1.0 AMA PRA Category 1 CreditTM. 

Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Planning Committee

No one in control of content has any relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies.*
*Ineligible companies are those whose primary business is producing, marketing, selling, reselling, or distributing health care products used by or on patients.

Course Information

This webinar was recorded on 20 August 2026.

The expiration date for this course is 20 August 2029.