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Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome — NCLEX Cheat Sheet

Withdrawal from maternal opioids

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👤 By the CinnaRN Clinical Content Team 🕐 Updated 2026-07-11 🏷️ Psychosocial Integrity 🔖 Free to read, print, and share

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Use this quick-reference guide to spot, treat, and prevent Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome on the NCLEX. Keep it handy during review and on exam day!

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Mech

Key facts

In-utero drug exposure → withdrawal
Opioids most common cause

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Signs

What to look for

High-pitched cry, irritable, jittery
Tremors, hypertonia, poor feeding
Diarrhea, sweating, sneezing, yawning
Seizures = severe

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Do

Nursing actions

Swaddle, dim lights, low stimulation
Small frequent feeds, ↑ calorie
Morphine/methadone taper if severe

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Report

Notify / act now

Seizures, severe dehydration, poor weight

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Quick Tip

Classic signs are a high-pitched cry, hyperactive reflexes/tremors, irritability, poor feeding, and a difficult-to-console state.

📖 Related Topics

Therapeutic Communication Techniques Defense Mechanisms Crisis Intervention Grief and Loss

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