Date of Award

2020

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

College

College of Nursing

First Advisor

Shannon Phillips

Second Advisor

Susan D. Newman

Third Advisor

Martina Mueller

Fourth Advisor

Sean Loudin

Abstract

The national burden of Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome on individuals, families, and the healthcare system has reached epidemic proportion. The rising incidence of Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome significantly impacts healthcare utilization and costs due to increases in Neonatal Intensive Care Unit admissions and length of hospitalization, to the possible detriment of maternal-infant bonding. Because nonpharmacologic nursing care is not complicated by the potentially harmful side effects of pharmacological treatment, it should be considered the standard of care for opioid-exposed infants; therefore, a comprehensive understanding of the barriers and enablers to nurses’ implementation of nonpharmacological interventions for infants with Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome is needed. This dissertation examines the benefits and factors associated with breastfeeding (a key nonpharmacological intervention) for the opioid-dependent maternal-infant dyad, factors associated with influencing healthcare providers’ behaviors in the care of infants with Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome, and barriers and enablers to nurses’ implementation of nonpharmacological interventions for infants with Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome. Findings from this study will inform the development of programs to improve nurses’ implementation of nonpharmacological interventions and health and utilization outcomes in infants with Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome.

Rights

All rights reserved. Copyright is held by the author.

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