NICU nurses' lived experience: caring for infants with neonatal abstinence syndrome

Abstract

Purpose: The primary aim of this qualitative methods study was to describe the lived experiences of neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) nurses with ethical and morally challenging issues.

Subjects: The target population for the study was registered nurses working in the NICU. Interviews were completed with 16 nurses from 1 hospital.

Design: A phenomenological method design was used to describe NICU nurses' lived experiences with ethical and moral issues encountered in the NICU.

Methods: After obtaining signed consent, the principal investigator interviewed all participants, using a semistructured interview guide consisting of open-ended questions.

Main outcomes: Ethical and moral distress related to neonatal abstinence syndrome was the predominant outcome.

Principal results: Caring for infants, coping with families, and discharging infants home were the major concerns voiced by nurses in this study.

Conclusions: Nurses in this study struggled with issues of beneficence and nonmaleficence and were not aware of scientific evidence that guides methadone management of pregnant women.