NASCEND

Technology-enhanced training & certification for healthcare systems to improve outcomes for OEI.

10/16/2025

We had an inspiring time at the 2025 Kentucky Opioid Symposium, where people from across the Commonwealth came together to learn, collaborate, and strengthen efforts to address opioid use. Highlights included Dr. Dasgupta’s “Behind the Numbers” session on overdose trends and the Boyle County ASAP Community Coalition’s moving talk on embedding harm reduction in small towns.

It was amazing to connect with attendees who, as Attorney General Russell Coleman put it, truly “give a damn.” We hope future symposiums also shine a light on infants and mothers affected by opioid use, ensuring these critical populations get the attention and support they deserve.

10/14/2025

Language matters. The words we use can build bridges—or create barriers.

Watch this side-by-side of stigmatizing terms and the language we recommend instead. Which one surprised you most? 💬

10/11/2025

Standard NOWS scoring looks at 21 subjective symptoms, while the Forbes AssessPro focuses on 6 evidence-based symptoms. Here is why it matters for NAS care:

Sneezing is listed as a withdrawal symptom in standard NOWS scoring, but it is actually common in all newborns and does not indicate the need for medication treatment.

Forbes AssessPro focuses on 6 evidence-based, clinically significant symptoms that truly indicate withdrawal and guide treatment decisions. Our approach helps providers deliver standardized, consistent care for opioid-exposed infants while reducing unnecessary treatment, length of stay, and financial burden.

09/29/2025

Did you know that 'bonding' and 'attachment' aren’t the same? Bonding refers to the parent’s emotional connection, while attachment is the infant’s developing connection. For mothers with substance use disorder (SUD), physiology can sometimes make immediate bonding more challenging. It’s important for healthcare professionals to understand that bonding is a process that takes time. NASCEND’s training provides guidance on how to support and promote bonding for mothers and infants.

09/27/2025

Think medicated assisted therapy (MAT) should be lowered during pregnancy to protect the baby? ❌ Myth!

Like other common medications, insulin, Synthroid, and Prozac, MAT with methadone or buprenorphine is often increased during pregnancy. As blood volume rises, the medication spreads more widely, so dose adjustments are needed to stay effective.

Reducing or stopping MAT is far riskier for both mother and baby. Proper dosing helps keep moms stable and babies safer.

09/24/2025

Missing a diagnosis of opioid-exposed infants at birth can have serious consequences. Babies may experience poor growth and nutrition, sleep difficulties, and irritability that can lead to ER visits. Families face unnecessary stress, and critical opportunities for timely care and intervention can be missed.

NASCEND’s training bridges this gap, giving healthcare teams the knowledge, confidence, and practical strategies to identify these infants early. With the right care at the right time, infants receive targeted intervention, families feel supported, and outcomes improve.

09/20/2025

Fact: Many opioid-exposed infants show signs of withdrawal, and their symptoms depend on timing and exposure. Knowing when the mother’s last exposure occurred helps anticipate when symptoms may appear—so babies get the right care and no diagnosis is missed.

We’d love to hear from you: what signs of withdrawal do you notice most often?

09/17/2025

👶 Why are 20-40% of opioid-exposed infants (OEI) not diagnosed prior to discharge?
It’s not just one factor—there are multiple reasons these diagnoses slip through the cracks, each with serious implications for infant health and family care.

Here are 5 key challenges:
1️⃣ Delayed onset of symptoms
2️⃣ Lack of universal screening
3️⃣ Maternal stigma and disclosure barriers
4️⃣ Inconsistent use of tools
5️⃣ Shortened length of stay

NASCEND’s training equips nurses and healthcare teams with the knowledge and tools to recognize and respond consistently. In future posts, we’ll explore the consequences of missed diagnoses. 🩺
Curious to learn more or have a question about best practices? We’d love to hear from you.

09/13/2025

MYTH! Missed diagnoses aren’t just statistics, they’re missed chances to provide the right care at the right time. With 20–40% of opioid-exposed infants going home undiagnosed, it’s time to ask: why is this happening, and how can we do better? Stay tuned as we unpack the reasons behind this and what it means for babies and families.

09/08/2025

NICUs are classified into four levels of care, each designed to handle a different degree of newborn medical need. For many Level I and II nurseries, infants with opioid exposure are often transferred to higher-level NICUs. This creates separation between mom and baby and removes families from their community systems during an already challenging time.

NASCEND's training is designed to work across all NICU levels, but it makes a critical difference in lower-level nurseries, especially in rural hospitals that are disproportionately impacted by the opioid epidemic and often face limited resources. 💡 By standardizing care, we empower providers with the tools, training, and confidence to care for these infants close to home. The result? Less need for medicated treatment, shorter hospital stays, and improved outcomes for both mom and baby, all while keeping families together in their community.

Address

710 Barret Avenue
Louisville, KY
40204

Website

http://www.nascend.com/, https://linktr.ee/nascend

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The New Paradigm of Care for Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome

Each year, an estimated 15% of infants are affected by prenatal exposure to alcohol, illicit drugs or other substances. That means 1 infant is born every 15 minutes requiring treatment for neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS) resulting in an aggregate cost of care of more than $2.5 billion. NASCEND is transforming the experience of NAS with technology, live virtual and in-person training, evidence-supported guidelines, and family-focused intervention. NASCEND helps healthcare professionals engage with expectant mothers and families as early as the 1st trimester, deliver improved in-hospital newborn care, and continue developmental and nutritional follow up for the first three year’s of the child’s life. Our results are life changing. Infants supported with NASCEND’s continuum of care are less likely to be admitted to the NICU, are treated with comfort care measures instead of medication, and spend less time in the hospital. NASCEND’s approach to caring for substance exposed infants significantly reduces the cost of care with a per patient savings of nearly $40,000 as well as a better experience for families and healthcare providers.