Applying education to practice: Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome.

My first job after graduating from nursing school was in pediatrics. That's where my career began and where I want to continue to grow. When I decided the time was right for me to complete a Master of Nursing program, I considered what option would build upon my current experience. My strengths lie in leadership and direct patient care and when I heard about the Clinical Nurse Leader (CNL) program, I knew it would be a perfect fit.

The CNL program at Montana State University (MSU) is flexible and allows students to focus on a specific area of care. At the same time, an overall generalist approach broadens each student's perspective. The CNL course work combines skills of advanced patient care, leadership, and the application of evidence-based practice, culminating in a professional project. The CNL program of study allows the students to build on their interests by providing the opportunity to thread the project focus throughout their clinical courses.

I chose to focus my final professional project on Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS) in my community. All neonates exposed to opiates inutero are at risk for developing NAS, which, if untreated, can lead to seizures and even death. In Bozeman, NAS is a low frequency but high-risk situation. As the local population continues to grow, the frequency of NAS will follow. This syndrome is unfamiliar to many community members, including healthcare providers; therefore my project encompasses education to families and healthcare professionals, both in acute care and community settings. The purpose of my project is to propose evidence-based practice recommendations for the treatment of neonates with NAS, with a focus on improving patient outcomes and safety. Specifically, the goal is to avoid adverse outcomes such as seizures and death while decreasing duration of treatment, hospital length of stay, and need for intensive nursing care. Since an aspect of the CNL role is to improve patient care and safety through evidence-based interdisciplinary care, my project is directed at neonatal care providers in all disciplines.

This project is just one example of the capabilities of the CNL. The CNL stands out through the ability to implement evidence-based practice in the direct care of complex patients, education of patients, families, and staff, and leadership in collaborating with a diverse interdisciplinary team.

The Clinical Nurse Leader can provide real solutions to health care problems such as adverse patient outcomes, escalating costs, and staffing struggles. As the end of my program nears, I continue to focus on my practice goals. However, I believe my commitment of time and energy as a student will give me the strength and inspiration to be the kind of nursing leader healthcare so sorely needs.

The Clinical Nurse Leader program at MSU can be completed via distance-learning technologies in one calendar year (full-time) or two years (part-time). The CNL program is designed to meet the needs of busy nurses who are looking for the opportunity to expand their leadership knowledge and skills.

Kim Kusak, RN, BSN, Graduate Student, MSU Clinical Nurse Leader Program (Graduating August 2008) Staff Nurse, Bozeman Deaconess Hospital Adjunct Instructor, Montana State University College of Nursing Submitted by Kathryn Siegrist

For more information about MSU's CNL program: Visit the College of Nursing website at http://www.montana.edu/nursing/academic/cnl.htm or contact Lynn Taylor, Graduate Program Assistant at 406.994.3500 or [e-mail] or Kate Siegrist, CNL Project Recruiter at 406.243.2110 or [e-mail]