A quality improvement project on implementing a standardized pain assessment and opioid stewardship guidance at a level IV NICU.

Background: Balancing between adequate analgesia and preventing the harmful side effects of opioids in the NICU is an important clinical conundrum. Lack of awareness among caregivers and guidance on pain management are the key limiting factors. By initiating this quality improvement (QI) project, we aimed to reduce the usage of opioids in a quaternary NICU care by 5% within 1 year.