Evidence · Research paper
Standardized Scoring Tool and Weaning Guideline to Reduce Opioids in Critically Ill Neonates.
- Comfort and nursing care
- Families and professional practice
- Medical
- Neonatal abstinence syndrome
- Neurology
- Nursing
- Pain and comfort
- Quality improvement
Summary
Single-centre quality improvement project in a level IV NICU aiming to reduce the duration of opioid exposure for analgesia or sedation in critically ill neonates. A multidisciplinary team used the model for improvement, introducing the Withdrawal Assessment Tool-1 for standardised nursing assessment alongside a risk-stratified opioid weaning guideline. Mean opioid duration fell from 34.3 to 14.1 days, with improved documentation of withdrawal scoring and of the rationale for daily dosing, and no change in benzodiazepine use.
Summary written for NICUlearn. Always read the original.
- Licence:
- Open (Creative Commons)
The full text of this openly licensed paper is available to NICUlearn members, and Neeky can answer questions from it.
Guidelines are shown for education. Follow your unit's own guidance and senior advice.