Voices From the Frontline: A Qualitative Study on Safety Culture Challenges Among Maternity Ward Nurses in A Selected Tertiary Hospital in Zamboanga City
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.20644194Keywords:
maternity ward nurses, patient safety culture, phenomenology, nursing practice, safety enhancement plan, Zamboanga CityAbstract
Patient safety culture is critical in maternity care because the condition of mothers and newborns can change rapidly and requires timely, coordinated clinical action. This qualitative phenomenological study explored the lived experiences of maternity ward nurses regarding safety culture in a selected tertiary hospital in Zamboanga City. Fifteen registered nurses with at least two years of maternity-care experience were purposively selected after data saturation was reached. Data were gathered through semi-structured, in-depth interviews supported by field notes and reflexive documentation. The interviews were transcribed verbatim and analyzed using Colaizzi's descriptive phenomenological method. Five major themes emerged: patient safety as a professional responsibility; workload and staffing constraints affecting patient safety; teamwork and communication as foundations of safety; organizational and system barriers to safety culture; and continuous training and institutional support. Nurses emphasized vigilance, early detection of complications, clear endorsements, teamwork, and prompt coordination, while also describing high nurse-patient ratios, multitasking, equipment shortages, and hesitation to report errors because of fear of blame. The study concludes that maternity safety culture depends on both nurses' professional commitment and sustained institutional support. A context-responsive Safety Culture Enhancement Plan is proposed to strengthen staffing, communication, non-punitive reporting, training, resource availability, and workforce well-being.
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