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

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.