National Association of Neonatal Nurses

Small Baby Care
Specialist® Program

Click Here for NCC Codes

Executive Summary

The premature (VLBW, ELBW, Micro-premature) infant is at the highest risk for: prolonged hospital experience, key morbidities, long term neurodevelopmental challenges, family stress, increased hospital expenses, and infant death. More and more small babies survive until discharge from the NICU, but not without complications or morbidities that impact their future.

EngageGrowThrive, LLC developed an evidence-based program presented by small baby experts designed to provide the neonatal interdisciplinary clinician an opportunity to learn current evidence and best practices as a Small Baby Care Specialist® (SBCS).

Why have a Small Baby Program (Download PDF)
Neonatal Baby in NICU

Small Baby Care Specialist® Program Overview

The overarching goal of the program is to transform care provided by the interdisciplinary NICU team to improve the experience and outcomes for premature babies and their families.

The program is designed as a Small Baby Care Specialist® Conference in an online format to provide the neonatal clinician (all disciplines) with an opportunity to learn content evidence in a convenient environment. The benefits of the program are:

  • Reviewed by Interdisciplinary Content Expert Panel(CEP) ensuring current evidence, meeting stated behavioral objectives and relevance to current practice.

  • Convenient: readily available any time, any day

  • Relieves organizational burden to find expert speakers and schedule classes

  • Relieves staffing challenges for all team members to attend training

  • Discussion Board to share comments and ideas

  • Courses are updated at a minimum of every three years to keep up with current evidence.

EngageGrowThrive, LLC is committed to building inter-professional neonatal team knowledge, leading to improved quality and safety of care for the smallest babies and their families.

This program also has the potential to provide necessary evidence-based neonatal education and training for NICU team members in those NICUs who are interested in developing a small baby program.

The SBCS program is also listed as a NCC resource to prepare for the NCC ELBW Sub-specialty Certification Exam. Current passing rate for SBCS Program participants is 97%.

At the completion of video courses and course evaluation, the participant will be provided either 42.5 contact hours approved by the California Board of Registered Nursing or 35 CME, AAPA, ACPE or IPCE. SBCS® program completion is not licensure and does not guarantee competence. Competence in care is determined by State licensing boards and organizations where the individual is employed.

Neonatal Intensive Care Baby

Program Outline

The program outline is very intentional, focusing on reduction of the common morbidities experienced by premature infants. Each presentation contains measurable objectives, and is based on systems, topics, or diagnoses applicable to most small babies. Quizzes follow many of the presentations to help solidify knowledge learned. Practice Integration videos are included to demonstrate specific aspects of the presentation, reiterate key take-aways, share suggested quality improvement ideas, and model care. This unique feature encourages the participant to begin practicing their knowledge and expertise immediately.

Presentation and Faculty:

  • Family Partnered Care | Amy Nyberg, Parent Panel

  • Small Baby Survival and Outcomes | Mindy Morris, DNP, NNP-BC, CNS, C-ELBW

  • Maternal Role Attainment | Alex Luton, MN, NCNS-BC, NNP-BC

  • Communication/Teamwork | Mindy Morris, DNP, NNP-BC, CNS, C-ELBW

  • Continuity of Care (Primary Nursing) | Liz Drake, MN, NNP, CNS, RNC-NIC, C-ELBW

  • QI Process Improvement | Robert Ursprung, MD

  • Antenatal Care | Lavonne Sheng, MD

  • Resuscitation/Golden Hour/Stabilization | Michael S. Dunn, MD, FRCPC

  • Thermoregulation | Liz Drake, MN, NNP, CNS, RNC-NIC, C-ELBW

  • Prevention of Growth Failure | Gina O’Toole, RD, MPH, CLEC, CNSC & Mindy Morris, DNP, NNP-BC, CNS, C-ELBW

  • Benefits of Human Milk | Christine Bixby, MD

  • Pre-Feeding Foundations | Karin Mitchell, MA, CCC-SLP, CNT, CLE

  • NEC Prevention | Jae Kim, MD, PhD

  • Prevention of BPD | Jay Goldsmith, MD

  • Respiratory Modalities | Antoine Soliman, MD
  • Prevention of ROP | Jay Goldsmith, MD
  • Apnea of Prematurity | Mindy Morris, DNP, NNP-BC, CNS, C-ELBW
  • PDA | John P. Cleary, MD

  • Neurodevelopmental Risks and Outcomes | Mindy Morris, DNP, NNP-BC, CNS, C-ELBW

  • Neurosensory & Limbic System Development | Liz Drake, MN, NNP, CNS, RNC-NIC, C-ELBW

  • Neuroprotection and Injury Prevention | Mindy Morris, DNP, NNP-BC, CNS, C-ELBW

  • Prevention of Pain and Stress | Karin Mitchell, MA, CCC-SLP, CNT, CLE

  • Non-Pharmacologic Pain and Stress Relief | Karin Mitchell, MA, CCC-SLP, CNT, CLE
  • Positioning | Liz Drake, MN, NNP, CNS, RNC-NIC, C-ELBW

  • Skin to Skin Holding | Karin Mitchell, MA, CCC-SLP, CNT, CLP and Liz Drake & Parent Partner

  • Infection Prevention: Risks, Outcomes & CLABSI Prevention | Jennifer Rivera, MSN, APRN, ACCNS-N, RNC-NIC

  • Antibiotic Stewardship | Linda Lefrak, MSN

  • Skin Care | Carolyn Lund, RN, MS, FAAN, CNS

  • Renal | Mindy Morris DNP, NNP-BC, CNS

  • Small Baby Pharmacotherapy | Tina Lee, Pharm. D.

  • Intro to Ethics | Anita Shah, MD, MPH

  • Intentional Caregiving in the NICU | Sue Ludwig OTR/L

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Contact Us To Learn More

Program Info

  • $375 Individual Program
  • Contact Us For Group Pricing
  • 42.5 Nursing CE or 35 CME, AAPA, ACPE, IPCE
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97% Passing Rate for participants taking SBCS Program

National Certification Corporation ELBW Sub-Specialty Certification

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SBCS Testimonials

Jeanine Pourier
RN-BSN, CCRN, RNC-NIC, RNc-LRN
“Wow! What an amazing program! So much useful information! Our NICU opened a small baby unit a few years ago and we have adopted a lot of these practices. The lecture on intentional caregiving was phenomenal! I will be doing this at work, for each baby and I intend to bring this home to my kids as well!!!”

NICU RT
“I found the program to have an abundant amount of information and it made me realize that what I do as an RT is an integral part of the entire NICU cycle. I’m excited to use this information as we move forward with our small baby project. I want to include the family more, I want to be engaged and have them be part of the care of their infant. I want them to know that I’m there for their baby and them”.

37-year NICU RN
“Topics were relevant to my area of practice. Speakers were knowledgeable and easy to engage with. The handouts were easy to follow and liked having the capability of downloading the information for future reference. The quality of webinars was just like attending a conference except in the comfort of my own home. This program has me looking at my tiny patients and their families with a fresh perspective. I am reminded that the care I give at the bedside and the manner in which it is performed has the greatest impact on these babies and their outcomes.”

NICU Developmental Therapist
“Loved the discussion on parenting roles and empowering them-helped to have a deeper understanding of what they may be experiencing.”

NICU RN
“This program was excellent! I really loved that this program was a perfect balance of clinical applications, research, important physiological content, in addition to lectures about leadership, the parent’s experience, and intentional nursing.”

NICU RN
“Very well done! I love how you took this a step further with the practice integration.”