Team-Led Empowerment: A Toolkit Enhancing NOWS Care

Area of Science:

• Neonatal care
• Nursing education
• Public health

Background:

• States are addressing knowledge gaps in Neonatal Opioid Withdrawal Syndrome (NOWS) care.
• Interdisciplinary efforts, perinatal learning collaboratives, and quality improvement initiatives are key.
• NOWS affects newborns, necessitating specialized nursing knowledge and skills.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the impact of a team-led, evidence-based nursing intervention toolkit on nurses' knowledge and self-efficacy in managing NOWS.
• To integrate a specialized toolkit into hospital onboarding and annual competency training for registered nurses.

Main Methods:

• A 5-step project implemented a team-led, evidence-based nursing intervention toolkit in a Midwest NICU.
• A pre- and posttraining assessment survey measured changes in nursing knowledge and self-efficacy related to NOWS.
• An educational curriculum intervention was introduced for new hires and annual competencies.

Main Results:

• Posttraining, nurses demonstrated a significant increase in knowledge and a 0.85-point improvement in self-efficacy scores.
• The curriculum successfully integrated the NOWS toolkit into consistent onboarding and annual competency processes.
• The intervention targeted registered nurses in a level III neonatal intensive care unit.

Conclusions:

• A comprehensive, team-driven approach empowers nurses with enhanced skills and confidence for quality NOWS care.
• Integrating evidence-based toolkits into training reinforces continuous improvement in neonatal care standards.
• This initiative contributes to improved outcomes for newborns experiencing NOWS and their families.