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.