The Leadership Role of the Nurse in Providing Care for Women and Neonates Experiencing the Adverse Effects of Opioid Use Disorder: A Scoping Review of the Literature

Opioid use disorder (OUD) is an epidemic in the United States. In 2019, more than 50,000 Americans died from an opioid-related drug overdose. Women are more likely than men to develop OUD. For pregnant women, OUD is also on the rise. Between 1999-2014, the number of births impacted by OUD has more than quadrupled. Neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS) has increased alongside OUD. Nurse-led models of care can result in improved outcomes for both mothers and babies affected by OUD. Medication-assisted treatment (MAT) is one therapy that is showing promise with 142% increase in patients receiving MAT from 2016-2018. This review summarizes relevant literature addressing the leadership role of nurses in the management of mothers and babies experiencing OUD and its adverse effects. A search of the literature was conducted using PubMed, CINAHL, and related articles. The common themes present in the articles include: utilization of screening tools and assessments at prenatal care visits, the importance of educating both patients and providers, addressing common potential barriers to care, and the benefits associated with interprofessional collaboration. More research is needed, however, to fully examine how the nurse impacts patient care for this specific population. the role of the nurse and the impact they have on caring for this particular population. In addition, nurses in perinatal and NICU settings should educate themselves about perinatal opioid use, methods for management, and the role they can play in supporting patients as the opioid crisis continues.Bachelor of Scienc