title: NICU nurses' lived experience: caring for infants with neonatal abstinence syndrome.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  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.
  
  
  METHODS
  The target population for the study was registered nurses working in the NICU. Interviews were completed with 16 nurses from 1 hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  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.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Ethical and moral distress related to neonatal abstinence syndrome was the predominant outcome.
  
  
  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.
authors.affiliation: College of Nursing, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33612, USA. dmaguire@health.usf.edu
authors.forename: Denise
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Maguire
authors.forename: Mary
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Webb
authors.forename: Denise
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Passmore
authors.forename: Genieveve
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cline
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002983:Clinical Competence; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007363:Intensive Care Units, Neonatal; D015931:Intensive Care, Neonatal / Q000941:ethics / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D028681:Moral Obligations; D009357:Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome / Q000209:etiology / Q000451:nursing; D017283:Neonatal Nursing / Q000941:ethics / Q000379:methods; D009726:Nurses / Q000523:psychology / Q000592:standards; D009730:Nursing Assessment; D058850:Opiate Substitution Treatment / Q000379:methods / Q000451:nursing; D010351:Patient Discharge; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000451:nursing*; D011368:Professional-Family Relations; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000451:nursing; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D000078329:Workforce