Nursing support time and nurse/patient satisfaction during first stage active phase labor

Positive perception of the childbirth experience is linked with increased self-esteem, decreased maternal/infant mortality, and more complete adoption of the maternal role. Nursing support is key to that satisfaction. This investigation sought to answer the following question: How much time do nurses spend supporting women in first stage active phase labor? A computer program was developed and used to time and record nurses' support activities and other professional duties during first stage active phase labor. Thirty women with healthy, full-term gestations and 17 nurses participated in this observational, continuous time study. Nurses spent an average of 31% of the observed labors in the patients' rooms. Of that time, 63% was spent in the performance of other professional duties such as documentation and assessment of patient condition and 41% in supportive activities. Supportive activities were further broken down into four categories, with 40% instructional/informational, 37% emotional, 20% physical, and 3% advocacy. No statistical relationship was found between nurse or patient satisfaction and the amount of time spent in the room in supportive care. More experienced nurses spent statistically more time giving supportive care, but they were also statistically more dissatisfied with the care they gave and the amount of time they could spend in the room. Nurses also cared for an average of three patients during the observation periods. The development of a new computer program allowed for the documentation of nurses multitasking. Nurses were engaged in more than one activity 20% of the time while in patients' rooms.