Implementation of Eat Sleep Console for Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome: A Quality Improvement Project

Problem Statement: A level III NICU and mother-baby unit within an inpatient hospital in the Southeast United States transitioned from the Finnegan Neonatal Abstinence Scale (FNASS) to the Eat, Sleep, Console (ESC) for treating Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS). Prior to ESC implementation, there was limited nursing education of ESC practice guidelines or consideration for proper implementation protocol. Purpose: The purpose of this evidence-based quality improvement project was to reintroduce nursing staff to the ESC NAS Care Tool and ESC charting guidelines within the NICU and mother-baby units. Methods: This project followed the PDSA process – Plan, Do, Study, Act, underscored by the Change Theory Framework. The goal of the project was to determine if the introduction of the ESC NAS Care Tool and ESC charting guidelines would improve nursing staff charting and implementation of ESC for NAS patients. Analysis: Data were collected pre-and post-implementation of the ESC NAS Care Tool and ESC charting guidelines. Data analysis was conducted using SAS and included descriptive statistics, the Fisher Exact Test, and correlations. Findings: Appropriate implementation of the ESC NAS Care Tool and ESC charting guidelines, in combination with nursing education, leads to better adherence to ESC. Implications for Practice: Providing clear, evidence-based practice guidelines and accessible references and resources for ESC to guide nursing practice improves patient care. Formal policies on implementing evidence-based guidelines should be adopted by hospital facilities to aid nursing staff and units with transitions in care practices and expectations.