Parental Caregivers’ Ability to Leave the Postpartum Unit During the COVID-19 Pandemic and Effects on Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome

OBJECTIVE: To determine if a policy change that limited the ability of parental caregivers to leave the postpartum unit during the COVID-19 pandemic influenced neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS) scores, admissions to the NICU for NAS treatment, and length of stay (LOS) on the nursing unit. DESIGN: Retrospective chart review. SETTING: /Local Problem: During the pandemic, a change in policy limited parental caregivers from leaving the nursing unit. PARTICIPANTS: Neonates being screened for NAS during the period before the policy change from April 2, 2019, through April 1, 2020 (n = 44), and the period after the policy change (n = 23) from April 2, 2020, to April 1, 2021. MEASUREMENTS: Levene’s test was used to determine homogeneity of variance before independent t tests on mean NAS scores and LOS across groups. A linear mixed-effects model tested differences in NAS scores, accounting for time and group. Chi-square tests determined differences in the number of neonates transferred to the NICU across groups. RESULTS: No differences between group variables were found, with the exception of feeding type and cocaine/cannabinoid use (p < .05). No significant differences were found in mean NAS scores (p = .96), LOS (p = .77) or NAS scores accounting for time and between groups (p = .069). Transfers to the NICU in the pre–policy change group were significantly greater (p = .05). CONCLUSION: Although no decrease was observed for mean NAS scores and LOS of the neonates, a decrease in transfers to the NICU for pharmacologic treatment for NAS was observed. Further research is required to determine casual relationships for the decrease in NICU transfers.