Newborn Nursery Advanced Practice Provider Transition to Practice Program

This is a 6-month training period for Advanced Practice Providers (APPs) that supports the transition to becoming competent in the care of newborn patients in the nursery setting. This curriculum is designed to train these individuals to have the medical knowledge, critical thinking skills, and procedures required to provide care in the newborn nursery.

Target Audience

The target audience for this training is practicing physicians, nurses, physician assistants and other healthcare or academic professionals with an interest in the care of newborn patients in the nursery setting.

Learning Objectives

Upon successful completion of this continuing education program, the participant should be able to:

  • Obtain a comprehensive prenatal history and identify maternal, fetal, social, and family risk factors relevant to neonatal outcomes
  • Perform a comprehensive newborn physical exam and recognize normal versus abnormal findings requiring anticipatory guidance or referral
  • Assess dysmorphic features and determine appropriate referrals or urgent interventions for congenital abnormalities
  • Apply the NRP® algorithm to assess newborn transition, initiate appropriate resuscitative steps, and recognize signs of abnormal adaptation
  • Evaluate bilirubin levels, identify risk factors, and determine appropriate management strategies for neonatal jaundice
  • Screen, assess, and manage neonatal hypoglycemia according to AAP and PES guidelines, including appropriate use of glucose gel
  • Explain and implement newborn preventive therapies and screenings while effectively counseling parents regarding their importance
  • Describe normal feeding patterns, support breastfeeding through proper latch assessment, and identify indications for formula use
  • Identify perinatal infection risks, interpret maternal and neonatal testing, and initiate appropriate prophylactic or therapeutic interventions
  • Apply AAP discharge criteria to evaluate readiness for discharge and provide effective anticipatory guidance to families
  • Recognize normal and abnormal penile and urinary tract anatomy, describe circumcision indications, and determine when specialist referral is required
  • Identify complications unique to late preterm infants and apply appropriate inpatient and discharge management strategies
  • Differentiate innocent from pathological murmurs, recognize signs of cardiorespiratory distress, and identify red flags for congenital heart disease
  • Assess neonates with prenatal substance exposure, utilize appropriate scoring systems, and apply non-pharmacologic and pharmacologic management strategies
  • Analyze racial and cultural disparities in maternal and neonatal health and apply DEI principles to improve care outcomes

Disclaimer Statement:

The information presented at this activity represents the views and opinions of the individual presenters, and does not constitute the opinion or endorsement of, or promotion by, the UPMC Center for Continuing Education in the Health Sciences, UPMC / University of Pittsburgh Medical Center or Affiliates and University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine.  Reasonable efforts have been taken intending for educational subject matter to be presented in a balanced, unbiased fashion and in compliance with regulatory requirements. However, each program attendee must always use his/her own personal and professional judgment when considering further application of this information, particularly as it may relate to patient diagnostic or treatment decisions including, without limitation, FDA-approved uses and any off-label uses.

Course summary
Available credit: 
  • 23.00 AAPA Category I CME
    • 8.00 Pharmacotherapeutic
  • 23.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™
    The University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians.
    • 8.00 Pharmacotherapeutic
  • 23.00 ANCC
    UPMC Provider Unit is accredited as a provider of continuing nursing education by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation
    • 8.00 Pharmacotherapeutic
  • 23.00 Attendance
    • 8.00 Pharmacotherapeutic
Course opens: 
02/13/2026
Course expires: 
02/13/2029
University of Pittsburgh Canvas
United States

Faculty:

Planning Committee:

  • Carey Welsh. MD -  Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, Associate Regional Medical Director, Central Pennsylvania; Medical Director, NICU, UPMC Memorial; Medical Director, NICU APP Fellowship Program; Chair, Department of Pediatrics, UPMC Carlisle Division of Newborn Medicine; UPMC Harrisburg / UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh; University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine
  • Sarah Whoric, PA-C – Associate Director of Advanced Practice Recruitment, Retention, & Clinical Affairs; Advanced Practice Provider, Expert - Division of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, & Nutrition; UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh

Course Director:

Alexandria Handyside, CRNP -  Supervisor, Specialty Pediatric Advanced Practice Providers; Lead, Newborn Nursery APP Transition to Practice Program, UPMC Central Pennsylvania; Division of Newborn Medicine, Division of Pediatric Hospitalist Medicine

Course Presenters and Module Listing

Module 1: Prenatal History 

  • Maternal and Prenatal History Video - Alexandria Handyside, MSN, RN, CRNP, CPNP-PC
  • Antenatal Fetal Monitoring Video - Carey A. Welsh, MD​

Module 2: New Born Exam

  • Newborn Exam - Alexandria Handyside, MSN, RN, CRNP, CPNP-PC
  • Common Newborn Exam Findings - Alexandria Handyside, MSN, RN, CRNP, CPNP-PC
  • Newborn Reflexes - Alexandria Handyside, MSN, RN, CRNP, CPNP-PC

Module 3:  Identifying Abnormalities

  • Congenital Anomalies Part 1 - Greg A. Barretto, Jr., MD, MS -  Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, Regional Medical Director, UPMC, Division of Newborn Medicine, UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh/UPMC Magee Women's Hospital
  • Congenital Anomalies Part 2 -  Greg A. Barretto, Jr., MD, MS- Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, Regional Medical Director, UPMC, Division of Newborn Medicine, UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh/UPMC Magee Women's Hospital
  • Newborn Nursery Surgical Emergencies -  Dorothy V. Rocourt, MD, MBA  - Associate Regional Medicla Director of Pediatric Surgery and Pediatric Quality Medical Director for UPMC Children's in Central, PA.  Clinical Professor of Surgery at UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh

Module 4: Newborn Resuscitation/Transition

  • Transition to Extrauterine Life -  Greg A. Barretto, Jr., MD, MS - Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, Regional Medical Director, UPMC, Division of Newborn Medicine, UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh/UPMC Magee Women's Hospital

Module 5:  Hyperbilirubinemia

  • Jaundice and Hyperbilirubinemia - Alexandria Handyside, MSN, RN, CRNP, CPNP-PC

Module 6: Hypoglycemia

  • Neonatal Hypoglycemia - Gysella Muniz, MD, MBA, FAAP -  Associate Professor of Pediatrics, Medical Director, Newborn Nursery Service, UPMC Magee-Womens Hospital, Regional Director, Quality Newborn Care, UPMC
  • Infants of Diabetic Mothers - Carey A. Welsh, MD​

Module 7:  Preventive Newborn Therapies and Screenings

  • Newborn Preventative Therapies and Screenings - Denise Mathias Eldridge, CRNP - John Hopkins Health System, Baltimore, MD
  • Newborn Screen Blood Test - Stephanie Lynn Smith, MD​ - UPMC Neonatology Services

Module 8: Newborn Nutrition

  • Infant Feeding - Jacqueline B. Saladino, MD, FAAP, IBCLC- Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, Director, Pediatric Primary Care, UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, Resident Education Director, Advanced Practice Provider Education Program in General Academic Pediatrics, UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh.
  • Infant Formula Overview - Moira Spotts, MS, RD, CNSC, LDN - Dietitian, Advance Practice Practitioner, UPMC

Module 9: Neonatal Infection

  • Maternal Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV) and Neonate Effects - Michelle Wile, NNP-BC- Expert, Neonatal Nurse Practitioner, UPMC
  • Maternal HIV and Neonate Effects - Michelle Wile, NNP-BC - Expert, Neonatal Nurse Practitioner, UPMC
  • Maternal Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C and the Neonate Effects - Michelle Wile, NNP-BC - Expert, Neonatal Nurse Practitioner, UPMC

Module 10: Discharge Planning

  • Discharge of the Mother Infant Dyad - Alexandria Handyside, MSN, RN, CRNP, CPNP-PC
  • Discharge Teaching - Jacqueline B. Saladino, MD, IBCLC - Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, Director, Pediatric Primary Care, UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, Resident Education Director, Advanced Practice Provider Education Program in General Academic Pediatrics, UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh.

Module 11: Penile Conditions and Hydronephrosis

  • Neonatal Penile Condition - Amy Burns, MD - Pediatric Urology, UPMC

Module 12: Late Preterm Infant

  • The Late Preterm Infant -  Alexandria Handyside, MSN, RN, CRNP, CPNP-PC

Module 13: Cardiorespiratory

  • Heart Murmurs in the Newborn - Tyler Hutchison Harris, MD– Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pediatric Cardiologist, UPMC
  • Respiratory Distress in Newborns - Brighid O'Donnell, MD​ - Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, Associate Clinical Director, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, UPMC Division of Newborn Medicine, Director of Medical Affairs, The Children's Home of Pittsburgh, Advisory Dean, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine.

Module 14: Neonatal Drug Exposure

  • Neonatal Drug Exposure - Stephanie Lynn Smith, MD, MSc - UPMC Neonatology Services
  • Finnegan and Eat Sleep Console - Stephanie Lynn Smith, MD, MSc - UPMC Neonatology Services

Module 15: DEI

  • DEI- Sharee Livingston, DO - UPMC Obstetrics and Gynecology Specialists

Conflict of Interest Disclosure:

No planners, members of the planning committee, speakers, presenters, authors, content reviewers and/or anyone else in a position to control the content of this education activity have relevant financial relationships to disclose.

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In support of improving patient care, the University of Pittsburgh is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.

Physician (CME)
The University of Pittsburgh designates this enduring material activity for a maximum of 23.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit[s]™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Nursing (CNE)
The maximum number of hours awarded for this Continuing Nursing Education activity is 23.0 contact hours.

Physician Assistant (AAPA)
The University of Pittsburgh has been authorized by the American Academy of PAs (AAPA) to award AAPA Category 1 CME credit for activities planned in accordance with AAPA CME Criteria. This activity is designated for 23.0 AAPA Category 1 CME credits. PAs should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation.  

Other health care professionals will receive a certificate of attendance confirming the number of contact hours commensurate with the extent of participation in this activity.

Available Credit

  • 23.00 AAPA Category I CME
    • 8.00 Pharmacotherapeutic
  • 23.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™
    The University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians.
    • 8.00 Pharmacotherapeutic
  • 23.00 ANCC
    UPMC Provider Unit is accredited as a provider of continuing nursing education by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation
    • 8.00 Pharmacotherapeutic
  • 23.00 Attendance
    • 8.00 Pharmacotherapeutic
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