Maternal-Child Nurses' Experiences with Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome Patients

Date of Conferral

11-9-2023

Degree

Ph.D.

School

Nursing

Advisor

Donna Bailey

Abstract

Maternal-child health (MCH) nurses can face moral and ethical dilemmas when caring for neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS) patients. With this patient population, care is focused on the NAS infant and the families. Nurses’ attitudes and personal opinions can either positively or negatively affect the therapeutic relationship with the families or mothers of the infants. This qualitative, phenomenological study aimed to explore the lived experiences of nurses caring for NAS infants and their families. Watson’s theory of human caring was the theoretical framework for this study. Semi structured interviews were conducted with nine MCH nurses with experience caring for NAS infants and families using audio-conferencing and transcribed verbatim. Data were manually coded, categorized into themes, and analyzed using Moustakas’s modified Van Kaam methods. Key findings included four major themes: (a) caring profession, (b) a typical day, (c) feelings about NAS patients’ families, and (d) nursing relationship/engagement. While most MCH nurses shared they did not have feelings of judgment and welcomed family involvement in caring for their newborns, some participants shared struggles with their feelings at times. Recommendations are for nursing leaders to routinely assess their nursing staff for signs they are having difficulty caring for NAS infants and family. Nurses should advocate for themselves if they are feeling unable to provide the care and engagement that NAS families need. Positive social change can occur from this study by helping nursing leaders understand the need for, and provide, additional education to help MCH nurses better care for and engage with the mothers and families of NAS infants, leading to therapeutic relationships and increased family involvement in care.

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