Factors Related to Intimidation During Oxytocin Administration

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Quality and Safety
• Nursing Practice
• Obstetrics

Background:

• Patient safety and quality are critical in healthcare, often affected by communication issues and workplace intimidation.
• Labor and delivery nurses manage oxytocin infusions, a process where provider-nurse disagreements can create tension and compromise patient care.

Purpose of the Study:

• To survey labor and delivery registered nurses regarding their experiences with perceived intimidation by providers.
• To investigate how intimidation influences nurses' actions and decisions during oxytocin administration.

Main Methods:

• An online survey was distributed to 913 registered nurses in labor and delivery, members of the Association of Women's Health, Obstetric, and Neonatal Nurses.
• The survey assessed workplace intimidation during oxytocin induction management and collected demographic information.

Main Results:

• Participants reported that past intimidation experiences influenced their oxytocin administration and led to medication errors.
• Nurses involved in medication errors cited intimidation as a contributing factor.

Conclusions:

• Workplace intimidation significantly impacts nursing care and medication safety in labor and delivery settings.
• Supportive organizational factors, including management support, a code of conduct, and a collaborative environment, are associated with reduced intimidation.