Webinars

Optimizing Eat, Sleep, Console: Advancing Family-Centered Care for Infants with Neonatal Opioid Withdrawal Syndrome

How does the Eat, Sleep, Console (ESC) model improve outcomes for infants with Neonatal Opioid Withdrawal Syndrome (NOWS)?

Presenter(s): Lisa Grisham, PhD, DNP, NNP-BC; Denisse Gonzalez Sternberg, RN, BSN

Moderator: Mary Kaminski, DNP, APRN, NNP-BC

Date: 02 December 2026

Time: 1-2:30 PM ET

Location: Live webinar

Continuing Education Credits: Nurse Contact 1.5 CE; Dietitian 1.5 CPEU

Summary

In this free, live accredited webinar, the faculty will explain the principles of the Eat, Sleep, Console (ESC) model and its role in family-centered assessment and management of infants with neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS) and neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome (NOWS).  Additionally, they will apply evidence-based, nonpharmacologic strategies to support infants experiencing opioid withdrawal and evaluate the impact of ESC and parent-driven care on pharmacologic treatment, length of stay, healthcare costs, and clinical outcomes for infants with NOWS.

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Optimizing Eat, Sleep, Console: Advancing Family-Centered Care for Infants with Neonatal Opioid Withdrawal Syndrome

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Related Questions:

  • What are some of the common challenges identified in the care of infants with NAS/NOWS?
    • Inconsistent scoring and decreased interrater reliability with the use of the Modified Finnegan Scoring System.
    • Feeding difficulties-including uncoordinated, frantic, poor suck quality and nipple chomping  
    • Diaper dermatitis  
    • Inconsistent ESC use and decision making for pharmacologic intervention  
    • Variable use of nonpharmacologic interventions such as holding, skin to skin care, babywearing, parental involvement, reduced environmental noise  
    • Communication gaps between families and health care professionals
  • What are some Nurse-Driven Strategies that assist with acceptance and support of the ESC model?
    • Education and Culture change - ESC principles, baby wearing certification, stigma awareness training and people first language training.
    • Staffing and Clinical Practice - acuity based nurse assignments, leadership support during implementation phase, advocacy for infant and family needs, continuous RN feedback
    • Multidisciplinary and Community Collaboration - medical team rounds for care coordination, partnership with pharmacy, OT/PT and case management, executive leadership advocacy for staffing and additional support  
    • RN-led NOWS/NAS committee and Unit Champions - Standardize ESC practice, education and protocols, promote data sharing, community engagement and family advocacy

Presenter Bio(s):

Mary Kaminski, DNP, APRN, NNP-BC

Manager, Pediatric Education 
Abbott Nutrition Health Institute
Neonatal Nurse Practitioner (ret.) 
Columbus, OH, USA

Mary Kaminski, DNP, APRN, NNP-BC, is the Manager for Nursing Health Care Education for Abbott Nutrition Health Institute (ANHI) and a retired Neonatal Nurse Practitioner (NNP). Dr Kaminski received her MS in perinatal nursing from the University of Illinois at Chicago and her doctorate of nursing practice (DNP) from The Ohio State University. She has been working in neonatal nursing for over 40 years. She has worked as a clinical nurse specialist, program manager, and clinical nurse educator. Mary developed the NNP certificate program at the Columbus Children’s Hospital and went on to teach at The Ohio State University for over 12 years in their NNP Program. She has helped over 250 students become NNP’s over her career. Mary has been an active volunteer on the national and local levels for the National Association of Neonatal Nurses (NANN) and the National Association of Neonatal Nurse Practitioners.  She is an accomplished author, having contributed to peer-reviewed journals and textbook chapters. Her interests include NNP education and professional development, Persistent Pulmonary Hypertension (PPHN), and the surgical neonate.

Lisa Grisham, PhD, DNP, NNP-BC

Assistant Professor
Arizona State University College of Nursing and Health Innovation
Advanced Practice Provider Lead, Neonatal Nurse Practitioner, Director of NAS Care Program
Banner University Medical Center
Tucson, AZ, USA

Lisa Grisham is an Assistant Professor at Arizona State University in the Edson College of Nursing and Health Innovation. She is also a Neonatal Nurse Practitioner and Director of the Family Centered NAS Care Program at Banner University Medical Center – Tucson.  She has over 25 years of experience in the NICU and working with infants with substance exposure. has integrated research into her practice in the last decade. Lisa was one of the founders of the Family Centered Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome Care Program, which has become a Center of Excellence providing care for infants withdrawing from opiates they were exposed to in utero. Through research and high-quality care, Lisa aims to decrease the need for postnatal opioids to treat NAS and increase neurodevelopmental outcomes in infants with substance exposure.

Denisse Gonzalez Sternberg, RN, BSN

Associate Director of Nursing-Neonatal Intensive Care Unit 
Banner University Medical Center
Tucson, AZ, USA

Denisse has been a dedicated member of Banner Health for over 10 years. Her career includes 8 years as a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) nurse and 2½ years with the Family-Centered Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS) Care Program. She joined the program as an RN Outreach Specialist and advanced to Supervisor and RN Program Manager. In these roles, Denisse supported the team's mission to improve the care, treatment, and outcomes of substance-exposed newborns and their families. She is committed to advancing evidence-based practices, research, education, and quality care to ensure the best possible start for infants affected by substance use disorder. Denisse recently transitioned into the role of Associate Director of Nursing for the NICU, where she continues to champion clinical excellence, staff development, family-centered care, and positive patient outcomes.

Category
CE CPEU Neonatal Prenatal & Neonatal

References:

  • Chu L, Liu X, Xu C. Eat, Sleep, Console model for neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome: a meta-analysis. Front Pediatr. 2024;12:1416383. doi:10.3389/fped.2024.1416383 
  • Young LW, Ounpraseuth ST, Merhar SL, et al. Eat, sleep, console approach or usual care for neonatal opioid withdrawal. N Engl J Med. 2023;388(25):2326-2337. doi:10.1056/NEJMoa2214470 
  • Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ). HCUP Fast Stats Data Tools – Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP) Fast Stats. Accessed July 10, 2026. https://datatools.ahrq.gov/hcup-fast-stats/ 
  • Jilani SM, Jones HE, Grossman M, et al. Standardizing the Clinical Definition of Opioid Withdrawal in the Neonate. J Pediatr. 2022;243:33-39 e1. doi:10.1016/j.jpeds.2021.12.021