Nursing support in labor

A retrospective survey was conducted to identify the helpfulness of nursing support behaviors as perceived by women in labor. Behaviors were classified as providing affect, affirmation, or aid support. A convenience sample of 78 women completed two data collection instruments: a demographic questionnaire and the Nursing Support in Labor Questionnaire (NSILQ). All 20 of the nursing support behaviors identified on the NSILQ were perceived as helpful by the study sample. No major differences were found between the perceived helpfulness of affective, affirmation, or aid support.