Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome Nursing Care
Bhumika Patel
Orvis School of Nursing
University of Nevada Reno
Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome Nursing Care
This paper discusses the case of 2-month old patient who will be referred to simply as L.C. The patient has been admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit at Saint Mary’s Regional Hospital in Reno, NV for neonatal abstinence syndrome. L.C.’s meconium toxicology screen reveals positives for the following substances: codeine, morphine, hydrocodone, amphetamine, and methamphetamine. He is currently being tapered off of morphine, which has been being administered soon after L.C. was born. Non-pharmacological methods such as swaddling, feedings, and other comfort methods are also being utilized to aid in the treatment of neonatal abstinence syndrome.
This paper will discuss the pathophysiology of withdrawals as it relates to neonatal abstinence syndrome. …show more content…
When the infant is born, it will display behaviors related to exposure to narcotics (Sublett, 2013). These drugs have the potential to cross the placental barrier and get into the fetal blood supply and problems can occur once the infant transfers to an extra-uterine life and there is cessation of the drugs the fetus was exposed to while in utero. The infant may show signs of withdrawal including but not limited to: tremors, increase in muscle tone, convulsions, high-pitched crying, tachypnea, respiratory retractions, excessive sucking with poor feeding, vomiting, loose stools, mottling, sweating, high temperature, and frequent yawning or sneezing or nasal congestion (Sublett, 2013). Often times, these infants will be transferred to the neonatal intensive care unit for further monitoring and treatment and will require hospitalization for several days, or until the infant weans off of the drugs and is free of any problematic
Bhumika Patel
Orvis School of Nursing
University of Nevada Reno
Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome Nursing Care
This paper discusses the case of 2-month old patient who will be referred to simply as L.C. The patient has been admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit at Saint Mary’s Regional Hospital in Reno, NV for neonatal abstinence syndrome. L.C.’s meconium toxicology screen reveals positives for the following substances: codeine, morphine, hydrocodone, amphetamine, and methamphetamine. He is currently being tapered off of morphine, which has been being administered soon after L.C. was born. Non-pharmacological methods such as swaddling, feedings, and other comfort methods are also being utilized to aid in the treatment of neonatal abstinence syndrome.
This paper will discuss the pathophysiology of withdrawals as it relates to neonatal abstinence syndrome. …show more content…
When the infant is born, it will display behaviors related to exposure to narcotics (Sublett, 2013). These drugs have the potential to cross the placental barrier and get into the fetal blood supply and problems can occur once the infant transfers to an extra-uterine life and there is cessation of the drugs the fetus was exposed to while in utero. The infant may show signs of withdrawal including but not limited to: tremors, increase in muscle tone, convulsions, high-pitched crying, tachypnea, respiratory retractions, excessive sucking with poor feeding, vomiting, loose stools, mottling, sweating, high temperature, and frequent yawning or sneezing or nasal congestion (Sublett, 2013). Often times, these infants will be transferred to the neonatal intensive care unit for further monitoring and treatment and will require hospitalization for several days, or until the infant weans off of the drugs and is free of any problematic