NICU Culture of Care for Infants with Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome: A Focused Ethnography.

PURPOSE

The purpose of this focused ethnography was to describe the culture of care and nonpharmacologic nursing interventions performed by NICU nurses for infants with neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS).

METHOD

Roper and Shapira's framework for the analysis included participant observation, individual interviews, and examination of existing documents.

SAMPLE

Twelve full-time nurses were observed and interviewed.

RESULTS

Results described the culture of care provided to infants with NAS by NICU nurses as evidenced by six themes: learn the baby (routine care, comfort care, environment, adequate rest and sleep, feeding), core team relationships (support, interpersonal relationships), role satisfaction (nurturer/comforter, becoming an expert), grief, making a difference (wonderful insanity, critical to them), and education and care of the mother.