Nurses' Compliance with Oxytocic Administration Guidelines during Labor

Oxytocic administration errors are a significant source of professional liability. Non
compliance with oxytocic drug guidelines is a serious, widespread problem among nurses.
Objective: The aim of this research was to identify nurses’ level of compliance with oxytocic
administration guidelines during labor. Setting: The study was conducted in four hospitals in
Alexandria, El-Shatby Maternity University Hospital, EL-Gomhoria Hospital, Gamal Abdel
Nasser Hospital and Dar El-Welada Hospital. Subjects: The study sample composed of 120
nurses working in the previously mentioned settings and providing direct care for laboring
women. Tools: Three tools were validated and used: Tool I: Socio-demographic data
questionnaire sheet, Tool II: Nurses' knowledge about Oxytocic administration questionnaire
and Tool III: Nurses' compliance with oxytocic administration observational checklist.
Results: The main study findings showed that only 13% of the subjects had good total score of
knowledge , while the majority of them 87% had fair and weak of total score (54% &33%)
respectively. Regardless of total score of knowledge (good, fair or weak) all nurses had poor
practice. There were also a significant positive relationship between nurses’ knowledge
about oxytocic administration and their socio-demographic characteristics (position, the
original residence and type of the family) and their nature of work (specifically the number of
women assigned to each nurse per shift). Conclusion: all study subjects had weak knowledge
and poor practices related to oxytocic administration. Recommendations: It is recommended
that midwifery nurses should seek continuing education, as well as attending pre-service and
in-service training programs on the safe oxytocic administration guidelines should target all
maternity nurses periodically and regularly.