Finnegan Score Calculator

The Finnegan Neonatal Abstinence Scoring System organizes observable signs that may occur when a newborn withdraws from opioids or other substances after birth. It covers central nervous system, metabolic, vasomotor, respiratory, and gastrointestinal findings. Each sign receives a defined point value according to severity, and the values are added to produce a total. The tool is used by trained healthcare professionals as one part of repeated bedside assessment, not as a stand-alone diagnosis. This calculator includes the classic symptom categories: cry, sleep, Moro reflex, tremors, muscle tone, skin excoriation, myoclonic jerks, convulsions, sweating, fever, yawning, mottling, nasal symptoms, respiratory signs, sucking, feeding, regurgitation, and stools. Enter zero when a sign is absent and the appropriate value when it is observed. Because several items have different maximum values, each field displays its permitted range. The result is the direct arithmetic sum of all entered points. A single score is only a snapshot. Many protocols repeat scoring every three to four hours and consider both the pattern and consecutive values. Thresholds vary by hospital, population, modified scoring form, and treatment pathway. Traditionally, repeated scores of eight or more or higher single scores may trigger closer evaluation or pharmacologic treatment, but the exact response must follow the institution's current protocol. Nonpharmacologic care, including a quiet environment, swaddling, skin-to-skin contact, and feeding support, remains important. Accurate scoring requires training because signs may overlap with hunger, infection, metabolic illness, neurologic disease, or normal newborn behavior. Observations should occur under consistent conditions and be documented at the correct time relative to feeding and sleep. The same validated version of the form should be used across shifts; mixing modified and original criteria can make trends misleading. This online calculator is an arithmetic aid for qualified clinical use. It does not establish substance exposure, diagnose neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome, or recommend medication. Any newborn with seizures, respiratory distress, poor feeding, temperature instability, dehydration, or other concerning signs needs immediate clinical evaluation. Clinicians should apply local neonatal guidance and consider the infant's gestational age, medical history, examination, feeding, weight, and serial trajectory.