Heather Jane McHughs, NNP-BC

Heather McHughs, MSN, NNP-BC, is a board-certified Neonatal Nurse Practitioner with over 25 years of nursing experience, specializing in the care of critically ill and high-risk newborns. She holds a Master of Science in Nursing from the University of Missouri-Kansas City and has extensive experience in Level III and IV Neonatal Intensive Care Units as well as Level I newborn nurseries. Throughout her career, she has managed extremely low birth weight infants, surgical and cardiac patients, and provided delivery room care for both high- and low-risk newborns. She is proficient in advanced neonatal procedures including umbilical line and PICC line insertion, intubation, chest tube placement, lumbar puncture, and the management of conventional and high-frequency ventilators. In addition to her clinical expertise, she serves as a preceptor for new NICU hires and NNP students, teaches RNC and NRP classes, and has played a key role in developing NICU residency and newborn specialist programs. She is recognized for her collaborative approach, working closely with neonatologists, fellows, and multidisciplinary NICU teams to deliver evidence-based, family-centered care. She holds active licenses in North Carolina and Missouri, is a certified NRP instructor, and maintains PALS and BLS certifications. Her professional memberships include the Academy of Neonatal Nurses and the National Association of Neonatal Nurses.