Safety Practices of Nurses in the Labor and Delivery Room: Basis for Program Development

This study examined safety practices among the nurses in the labor room and determined if selected profile variables were significantly related to the nature of these practices. In particular, it evaluated nurses' compliance with infection control, patient monitoring, communication, and documentation requirements. The quantitative descriptive-correlational study used an “ex-post facto” design and involved 100 nurses assigned to the labor room of Maimbung District Hospital. The researcher-made questionnaire was validated and analyzed using frequency, percentage, mean, standard deviation, and the Pearson correlation coefficient. The results indicated that nurses consistently had an extremely high mean score across all dimensions, especially in infection control. Correlation analysis revealed no significant relationship between age and overall safety practices, or between years of professional experience and overall safety practices, but there was a significant positive correlation between professional training and patient monitoring and participation in overall safety practices. The study emphasizes the need for continuous professional development to enhance nurses' skills and ensure high standards of care for the mother and newborn. The study was conducted at a single health care institution, but the results could serve as a foundation for future research and the development of competency-based training programs to improve patient safety in the labor and delivery room.