About NTMC

Living a Great Story, Kara Ann Waitzman, OTR/L, CNT, NTMTC

This presentation focuses on reflection of attendees own life story and their tremendous impact on the life stories of the infants and families they serve in the NICU.  Developmental and Mental Health outcomes of infants and families from the NICU are reviewed.  The intensity and presence of compassion fatigue in the NICU is addressed along with ways to alleviate stress for the caregiver and patient.|61 minutes

Neonatal Theories, Mary Coughlin, MS, NNP, RNC-E

This course introduces the learner to the science and theoretical frameworks underpinning the concept of trauma-informed, neuroprotective care in the NICU. Understanding the theoretical constructs that encourage and drive research based on a priori assumptions informs our clinical practice through the discovery of evidence-based best practice. Implications of toxic stress and early life adversity impact the development of the infant-family dyad across the lifespan. Adopting trauma-informed, neuroprotective care as the measurable standard of care for critically ill newborns and infants must be viewed as a public health priority.|58 minutes

Brain and Sensory Development, Aune Hjartarson Nunn, OT Reg. (Ont), CNT, NTMTC

This presentation will review critical brain and sensory system development in the context of NICU care. It will highlight tangible methods to adapt care practices, modulate the sensory environment, and support brain and sensory system development. Strategies to involve parents and caregivers will be integrated as a vital part of supporting brain development and empowering families during the NICU admission. This advanced level information will enable neonatal clinicians to be intentional in the care they provide with the goal of optimizing the short and long term outcomes for infants and families.|77 minutes

Neonatal Pain & Stress, Elizabeth Jeanson, PT, DPT, CNT, NTMTC

Pain is universal.  In the NICU baby, pain can be prolonged, repetitive, and exaggerated leading to chronic stress, and long-term neurobehavioral effects.  As caregivers, we must shift our focus from reactive to a more proactive approach to pain management.  It is not simply enough to medicate for pain.  Pain must be managed in a relationship that promotes behavioral organization, stress relief, trust and security.  This presentation will identify the long-term effects of unmanaged pain, and discuss interventions and techniques to manage pain in a relationship-based care model.|47 minutes

Importance of Sleep, Gail Poskey, PhD, OTR/L

The purpose of this presentation is to understand the importance of sleep for the neonatal population. Sleep, sleep states, and sleep cycles will be explained as well as the importance of sleep for brain development and overall biological function. Resources will be provided for interventions to assist in safeguarding sleep with the neonate.|51 minutes

Anatomy: Bones & Muscles, Erin Springer, MOTR/L, CNT, NTMTC

Anatomy of the bones and muscles is reviewed, including the cranium helping the learner understand the impact of plagiocephaly and other implications for development. Likewise, the presentation reviews the bones and muscles of the upper and lower extremities, with implications for positioning infants in the NICU to prevent shortening and deformation during the NICU stay.|50 minutes

Positioning & Handling, Virginia E. McGill, DPT, CLWT, NTMTC

Positioning of the neonate effects their postural and neuromotor development as well as their current physiologic stability and sleep. In this module you will learn why the neonate is particularly susceptible to changes in their development due to positioning and how to optimize their function now and for the future through infant positioning and handling.|63 minutes

Infant-Driven Caregiving, Kara Ann Waitzman, OTR/L, CNT, NTMTC

This presentation facilitates the participant to individualize the care provided to the NICU infant and family, based on the individual needs of the infant and family at the time. Likewise, developmental care practices such as skin-to-skin and swaddled bathing are shown through videos to help the participant implement these practices in the NICU.|59 minutes

The Parent Experience, Kiera Sorells, BSFCS

This presentation will explore the specific psychosocial needs of high-risk mothers and NICU parents to uncover common barriers of communication and provide tools, strategies, and resources to overcome those barriers and improve outcomes.|63 minutes

Neonatal Skin & Touch, Rachel Harris, OTD, OTR/L, NTMTC

Skin is our largest sensory organ that provides us a conduit for learning and tactile experiences. Touch is an essential part of human interaction, development, and communication. Positive touch is critical to support an infant’s development and bonding with their parents. It is the first thing a parent wants to do when their baby is born: hold, touch, and comfort them. However, we know from working in the NICU that skin and touch is a complex matter for premature infants. In this webinar, we will discuss neonatal skin and tactile development, practical implications for caregiving in the NICU, and ways to best support parents in providing their infants with the positive, loving, and caring touch they both need to thrive.|65 minutes

Going Green in the NICU, Kathi Randall, RNC, MSN, CNS, NNP-BC

Explores the function of the skin, the difference between adult skin and neonatal skin and its vulnerability to fragrances and preservatives often found in care products. Resources are provided for the clinician to access to identify toxicity of products. This presentation gives therapists and nurses an increased awareness of the vulnerability of the skin of neonates as they are touched daily during typical caregiving and treatment.|69 minutes

The Lymphatic System, Holly Shifsky, OTR/L, MLD, CNT

Medically complex and premature infants in the NICU can demonstrate fluctuations with excessive fluid in their extremities due to co-morbidities or genetic conditions. During this session, we will review the development of the lymphatic system, its role to allow infants the ability to obtain physiological stability, and positioning/handling interventions to maximize the ability of the integumentary system to support lymphatic flow. Discussion of therapeutic interventions and assessment of edema to determine critical reasoning for treatment planning with use of manual edema mobilization or complete lymphedema therapy.|73 minutes

The Respiratory System, Ann Davis, RRT-NPS

This presentation describes the major causes of lung injury in the newborn, the risk factors associated with chronic lung disease, the impact of infant positioning on the artificial airway, characteristics of respiratory support modalities, and the possible causes of a BPD “spell”.|68 minutes

Opioids in the NICU, Lisa Cleveland, PhD, RN, PNO-BC, IBCLC, NTMNC

Soothing techniques are non-pharmacologic comfort measures and are considered the first line in the clinical management of infants with NAS. These techniques include swaddling, breastfeeding, and skin-to-skin mother-infant holding (kangaroo mother care). Of these techniques, breastfeeding and kangaroo mother care (KMC) are unique because they offer the potential to benefit both the mother and her infant. Thus, the focus of this learning session will be on the nurturing care of mother-infant dyads who are impacted by NAS.|39 minutes

Massage Literature Review, Shannon Usher, MSOT, OTR/L, CNT, NTMTC

This is an extensive, up to date review of the research from the past 10 years related to neonatal massage, including the medical, therapeutic, developmental, and parental benefits of massage in the NICU.|74 minutes

Access NTMC Phase II On-Line Education Speakers’ Disclosures Here.

*Faculty will be updated for 20202 Phase II On-Line Education. Click here to learn more.

Day 1 Topics (Nurses & Therapists)

1. Observation and Assessment of Neurobehavioral and Neuromotor Stress
2. Touch, Handling, and Caregiving activities in the NICU; Fostering Optimal Development
3. Touch and Massage Facts, Benefits and Literature Review
4. Massage Techniques for Infants in the NICU and how to set up a program for success
5. Touch and Massage related to specific conditions: Prematurity, NAS, CLD, Teen Parents
6. Facilitating Parent and Infant Relationships through Touch and Massage

Day 2 Topics (Therapists Only)

1. Neuromotor, Behavioral, and Systems Development in the 1st Year of Life
2. Implications of NDT Principles:Alignment, Movement, and Tone
3. Myofascial System and Myofascial Techniques to Optimize Neonatal Development
4. Myofascial Trigger Point Releases: Rational, Implications, and Techniques for NICU infants
5. Cranial Sacral and Lymphatic System Implications for Handling, Therapy and Overall Development

A complete NTMC Agenda can be found in the course brochures Here.

Access NTMC Phase III Speaker Disclosures Here.

*KARA ANN WAITZMAN, OTR/L, CNT, NTMTC

Kara Ann has been a neonatal therapist for over 30 years in a large Level IIIB NICU where she serves as the developmental specialist and a occupational therapist. She is president of Creative Therapy Consultants, Founder of the (NTMC), and Co-Founder of Infant-Driven Feeding®. She holds several certifications including NTMTC, NDT, NIDCAP, and CNT. Kara Ann has received professional awards including the Ohio Occupational Therapy Pediatric Model Practice Award, the March of Dimes Healthcare Worker of the Year Award, the MVH Excellence in Service Award and the 2015 Inagural Pioneer in  Neonatal Therapy Award from the National Association of Neonatal Therapists.

MARY COUGHLIN, MS, NNP, RNC-E

Mary Coughlin, MS, NNP, RNC-E is the Founder and President of Caring Essentials Collaborative, LLC and a graduate of Northeastern University where she received her baccalaureate and master’s degrees in nursing. Ms. Coughlin has assumed roles as staff nurse, charge nurse and neonatal nurse practitioner culminating in her current position with Caring Essentials Collaborative. With a clinical background that spans over 30 years, Ms. Coughlin is the internationally recognized expert in the field of trauma-informed, age-appropriate care in the NICU. A leader in the field of neonatal nursing and international key-note speaker Ms. Coughlin is a published author of multiple publications including Clinical Practice Guidelines for Age-Appropriate Care of the Premature and Critically Ill Hospitalized Infant for the National Association for Neonatal Nursing (NANN), Transformative Nursing in the NICU: Trauma-Informed, Age-Appropriate Care and her latest book entitled: Trauma-informed Care in the NICU: Evidence-Based Practice Guidelines for Transdisciplinary Neonatal Clinicians. Ms. Coughlin lives in Boston Massachusetts with her husband Dan and their dog George.

*AUNE HJARTARSON NUNN, OT Reg. (Ont), CNT, NTMTC

Aune is an experienced Occupational Therapist in a large NICU at McMaster Children’s Hospital in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. She received her undergraduate Psychology Degree and Occupational Therapy Degree from McMaster University. She is chair of the Developmental Care Committee, and provides comprehensive education for Neonatal Units and clinicians across the Region on neuroprotective care, feeding and swallowing, and complex discharge planning. Aune is an internationally sought after speaker, educator, and consultant. She lectures in the McMaster University Masters OT program on developmentally supportive care and the role of occupational therapy with premature and high risk infants. She has published in the area of clinical and videofluoroscopic assessment of aspiration in high risk infants.  Aune is passionate about neuroprotective care and the importance of education to empower families and caregivers, and optimize the long term outcomes for preterm and high risk infants. Aune was awarded the OT Practice Excellence Award for 2013.

ELIZABETH JEANSON, PT, DPT, CNT, NTMTC

Dr. Elizabeth Jeanson currently serves as the Developmental Specialist in Neonatal Intensive Care at Sanford/USD Medical Center. Dr Jeanson was NIDCAP trained,  Infant Behavioral Assessment and Neonatal Network Neurobehavioral Scale certified. She is also a certified infant massage instructor and a certified child passenger safety technician (car seat). Recently Dr Jeanson completed her Neonatal Touch and Massage Therapy certification. She is a certified neonatal therapist. In her current position Dr. Jeanson is responsible for direct and indirect implementation of developmental family centered care in a large level 3 neonatal intensive care unit. Dr. Jeanson has spoken regionally on topics including sensory development of preterm infants, positioning of infants in NICU, non-pharmacologic pain management for preterm infants, supporting the development of post term infants in the NICU, as well as team building and strategic planning for multidisciplinary teams. She published, One to One Bedside Nurse Education as a Means to Improve Positioning Consistency in 2013. Dr Jeanson’s passion is improving the outcomes of premature infants through cautious/thoughtful intervention, family support and staff education.

GAIL POSKEY, PHD, OTR

Dr. Gail Poskey received her Bachelor of Science degree in Healthcare Administration in 1985, her Masters of OT in 1988 and her PhD in 2007. She is currently serving as an Assistant Professor for the School of Occupational Therapy at Texas Woman’s University in Dallas, TX. She has served the neonatal and pediatric population for over 20 years. Gail has been involved in multiple research projects and has numerous publications.   She has also presented at the regional, national, and international level.

*ERIN SPRINGER, MOTR/L, CNT, NTMTC

Erin has practiced as a pediatric and neonatal occupational therapist for 18 years. She received her Master of Science from University of Puget Sound and currently works at Swedish Medical Center in Seattle. She works in the Main Campus level 4 NICU as well as the off-site level 2 nurseries. She is a Certified Neonatal Therapist, and obtained certifications in lactation education, and Neonatal Touch & Massage.  Erin has presented nationally and locally on developmental care and support for infants in the NICU. She also participates in the Vermont Oxford Network Quality Improvement initiatives focused on enhancing the care of micro-preemies. Erin also has experience in NICU follow-up for developmental and feeding support.

VIRGINIA MCGILL, PT, DPT, PCS, CLWT, NTMTC

Virginia McGill or Ginny received her Doctorate in Physical Therapy from Creighton University in 2001. She then practiced in Phoenix, Arizona in home care for developmentally delayed children and adults before transitioning in to the inpatient setting at Phoenix Children’s Hospital. She began neonatal practice in 2003. Neonatal therapy has been her practice focus from since then and has continued in Anchorage, Alaska where she moved in 2008. Ginny is now the Neonatal Therapy Supervisor for The Children’s Hospital at Providence Alaska Medical Center. She has developed competencies for therapy practice and nursing education programs for developmental care quality improvement. She has participated in VON work and the development of practice for micro premie care and kangaroo care. She has a special interest in skin care and is part of the NICU wound care team after receiving certification in wound and lymphedema treatment. Ginny enjoys living in Alaska and all it has to offer with frequent time spent kayaking, hiking, camping and kiteboarding.

KEIRA SORRELLS, BSFCS

Keira Sorrells is the mother of triplets born at 25 weeks, 5 days gestation. Ms. Sorrells spent nine and a half months in the NICU with her girls and experienced every parent’s greatest fear when one of her daughters died at 14 months old. In 2008, these traumas led Ms. Sorrells to launch the Zoe Rose Memorial Foundation, a non-profit that supports NICU families. She soon became aware that the voice of the NICU parent was underrepresented in Maternal and Infant Health community. In response, Ms. Sorrells helped launch and now serves as President of the Preemie Parent Alliance (PPA). PPA a network of over 30 NICU parent support organizations that is dedicated to representing the needs and best interests of NICU families in all facets of healthcare policy, care guidelines, advocacy, education, and family support. Ms. Sorrells strongly believes that no single organization or provider can serve all the needs of all NICU families, only through collaboration can the true voice of the NICU parent be represented appropriately.

RACHEL HARRIS, OTD, OTR/L, NTMTC

Rachel received her clinical doctorate in Occupational Therapy from Washington University School of Medicine. During her time at Washington University, she was actively involved in research related to maternal mental health and neonatal feeding outcomes. Rachel currently works in a level IV NICU at Medical City Dallas Children’s Hospital. She also works in home health with infants focusing on torticollis, plagiocephaly, and developmental delays. Rachel maintains her neonatal touch and massage certification and is passionate about improving outcomes for neonates and their families.

KATHI RANDALL, RNC-NIC, MSN, CNS, NNP-BC

Neonatal Nurse Practitioner and Clinical Nurse Specialist. In addition to her roles as a Neonatal Nurse Practitioner and Clinical Nurse Specialist, Kathi is also a businesswoman, owning her own education and consulting company, and during the last ten years has held a variety of roles for medical companies around the globe. But in 2008, her personal and professional passions took a new course. Kathi learned that chemicals found in products and equipment used in the NICU every day could be linked to serious short and long-term health concerns for babies and for staff. With a vision for a Green Centered NICU that would be safer for babies, for staff and even the environment beyond the NICU, Kathi created a new education program to inform, inspire and empower other healthcare professionals on how to create Green Centered NICUs. Kathi is a founding member of the Alliance of Nurses for Healthy Environments and Co-Chair of their practice work group. In April 2011, Kathi received the Breast Cancer Funds Andrea Martin Hero Award for her innovative work in Greening the NICU.

HOLLY SCHIFSKY, OTR/L, CBIS, CNT, NTMTC

Holly Schifsky is a 1997 graduate of the University of North Dakota Occupational Therapy program. She has focused her career on advancing clinical skills to provide evidence based interventions for neonates/infants/toddlers/young children with non-traumatic and traumatic injuries. She is a Certified Brain Injury Specialist, Certified Neonatal Therapist, Certified Neonatal Touch/Massage clinician and completed her infant/toddler NDT training which included a 6-month clinical mentorship. She has presented at a variety of regional and national conferences regarding clinical interventions for premature, medically complex infants, and pediatric trauma survivors. She has been a consultant in the NICU for the past 15 years and has dedicated the last 8 years to exclusive clinical work in the NICU and NICU follow-up clinic at the University of Minnesota Children’s Hospital. She provides assessments and interventions to advance developmental and feeding/swallowing skills for the patients in the 63-bed, Level IV NICU at the University of Minnesota.

ANN DAVIS, BS, RRT-NPS

Ann is a licensed respiratory therapy practitioner and neonatal pediatric specialist who has cared for neonatal patients for over 30 years. She works in a 60 bed, single family room, level 3 NICU as an educator for NICU staff and also provides instruction to area respiratory therapists training in newborn stabilization. As adjunct faculty at a local community college, Ann developed and facilitates a short term certificate program focusing on respiratory care of the newborn. In her role as an infant monitoring specialist, Ann was a co-author for a white paper detailing the use of documented event monitoring for pre-discharge screening. Her committee work includes providing education for the small baby team initiative and she recently worked with Kara Ann Waitzman and other NICU Professionals to develop the best practice for skin-to-skin transfer of the intubated infant.

LISA CLEVELAND, PHD, RN, CPNP, IBCLC, NTMNC

Dr. Lisa Cleveland is a Board Certified Pediatric Nurse Practitioner and an International Board-Certified Lactation Consultant. Her career is centered on advocacy for underserved families. She has a clinical practice at a non-profit, alternative high school and daycare for more than 300 at-risk children. Further, her research is focused on mother-infant dyads affected by neonatal abstinence (withdrawal) syndrome (NAS). U.S. rates of NAS have increased fivefold since 2000. Dr. Cleveland is currently leading her interprofessional team in conducting research to determine the impact of kangaroo mother care (KMC), a method of skin-to-skin, mother-infant holding, on stress reactivity and attachment in these dyads. The findings of this research show that KMC can reduce the severity of NAS symptoms and foster a strong maternal-infant attachment.  In addition, Dr. Cleveland is the Principal Investigator for a Patient Centered Outcomes Research Institute funded project to develop a Bexar County NAS Collaborative (BCNC). Bexar County, Texas, which includes the San Antonio area, has been disproportionately affected by NAS, accounting for one third of cases reported annually in the state. Therefore, the purpose of the BCNC, is to engage patient/family partners, community stakeholders, clinicians, and researchers in the identification of research priorities specific to NAS.

*SHANNON USHER, MSOT, OTR/L, CNT, NTMTC

Shannon received her Master of Science in Occupational Therapy degree from Washington University School of Medicine. She has been working in the NICU since she started her professional career and currently works in a large Level III NICU in Colorado Springs, CO. She also participates in the Infant Developmental Assessment Clinic in Colorado Springs. Shannon has presented many times on the local and national level both in live and pre-recorded formats. She is a clinical consultant and CE Administrator with Creative Therapy Consultants. Shannon has completed developmental assessments with a Nationwide National Institute of Health research study and she also volunteers with the Junior League of Colorado Springs.

Who can Become Certified?

Neonatal Touch & Massage Certification is open to neonatal registered nurses, occupational therapists, physical therapists and speech language pathologists with a minimum of 1000 hours experience in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit or Special Care Nursery. The applicant must have a valid license and be in good standing with their licensing body.

Credentials:

Upon completion of Neonatal Touch & Massage Certification, nurses will obtain professional credentials of NTMNC (Neonatal Touch & Massage Nurse Certified) and therapists will obtain professional credentials of NTMTC® (Neonatal Touch & Massage Therapist Certified).

These professional credentials will last 2 years, and recertification is completed every 2 years online, for a nominal fee and with no travel required.  Recertification is our commitment to you to keep you an expert in this specialized neonatal area.

Fees for NTMC:

$875 Therapists; $650 Nurses.

Contact Hours*

Phase II NTMC On-Line Education:

• This nursing continuing professional development activity was approved for 17.4 contact hours by the Ohio Nurses Association, an accredited approver by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation. (OBN-001-91) Activity Number 2020-0000000329.
• Creative Therapy Consultants is an Approved Provider of Continuing Education through the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) with provider #10629. This activity has been reviewed and approved for 15.5 Contact Hours/1.5 CEUs for occupational therapists.** (Domain of OT & Occupational Therapy Process)
• This activity has been approved by the Texas Board of Physical Therapy Examiners, approval #74050TX for 15.50 CCUs for PTs and PTAs.

*NTMC Phase II On-Line Education Contact Hours will be updated for 2022. Click here to learn more.

Phase III NTMC Hands-On Training:

• This nursing continuing professional development activity was approved for 7.75 contact hours by the Ohio Nurses Association, an accredited approver by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation. (OBN-001-91) Activity Number 2020-0000000329.
• Creative Therapy Consultants is an Approved Provider of Continuing Education through the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) with provider #10629. Both in-person and virtual learning formats have been reviewed and approved for 15.5 Contact Hours/1.5 CEUs for occupational therapists.** (Domain of OT & Occupational Therapy Process)
• This activity has been approved by the Texas Board of Physical Therapy Examiners, approval #75211TX for 15.50 CCUs for PTs and PTAs

ASHA CEUs

• The Neonatal Touch & Massage Certification (Phase II On-Line Education and Phase III Hands-On Training) is offered for 3.10 ASHA CEUs (Advanced Level, Professional Area)

* Partial credit for course will not be given.

** The assignment of AOTA CEUs does not imply endorsement of specific course content, products, or clinical procedures by AOTA or indicate AOTA approval of a certification or other professional recognition.