In this descriptive study, 100 low-risk participants who delivered vaginally were recruited from the postpartum unit of a major hospital in the city of Amman. Three instruments, the Numeric Pain Intensity Scale (NPIS), a pain assessment questionnaire and a demographic questionnaire were used to assess labour experiences and labour pain intensity levels. The majority of Jordanian parturients did not receive pain relief. Eighty-one women reported pain intensity levels of > or = 8 on the NPIS (ranging from 0-10). The mean pain intensity level during the second stage of labour was 8.83. A significant difference in age was found between primiparas and multiparas. Jordanian parturients reported painful labour experiences; therefore, re-evaluation of current maternity nursing and midwifery practices and roles regarding labour pain management are warranted. The roles of supporter and educator among maternity nurses and midwives in Jordan also need to improve considerably.

Common and current sociocultural norms in Syria do not encourage fathers to be present or contribute during childbirth. Therefore, establishing culturally sensitive supportive policies and practices is a vital step toward overcoming these barriers.

An exploratory descriptive study design was used to investigate job satisfaction and burnout among Palestinian nurses. A random sample of 152 nurses was recruited from private hospitals. The instruments included a demographic questionnaire, the Minnesota satisfaction questionnaire and the Maslach burnout inventory. Respondents reported moderate levels of job satisfaction and moderate burnout. Palestinian nurses face many challenges in their daily work due to decreased chances of job advancement and emotional exhaustion which may lead to job dissatisfaction. Health care administrators and policy-makers have a responsibility to find solutions to problems that cause job dissatisfaction and burnout among nurses to ensure the delivery of quality health care services. Satisfaction au travail et épuisement professionnel chez les infirmières palestiniennes

Limited numbers of studies have addressed Jordanian women's overall views and expectations of their first childbirth experience. A descriptive design using a convenience sample of 77 primigravid women was included in the analyses out of the total sample of 99 women. Participants responded to two valid and reliable questionnaires developed for the purpose of the study: the Expectations of Childbirth Experience questionnaire and the Expectations of Nursing Support During Labor and Birth questionnaire. The majority of primigravid women in this study expected a negative first childbirth experience. Findings indicated that the majority of women expected their overall childbirth experience to be frightening, very long, too difficult and painful. The expectations of a negative childbirth experience could be explained by limited labour preparation and advice given to women. Findings also indicated that women expected inadequate nursing and midwifery support during childbirth. Health-care providers should emphasize the importance of childbirth preparation and improving the quality of intranatal care to help in changing negative childbirth expectations and experiences of Jordanian women.

The purpose of this study is to explore labor pain coping methods among Jordanian parturients. Descriptive statistics and content analysis were used to analyze data on demographics and coping methods from 100 low-risk parturients who were recruited from the postpartum unit in a major hospital in Jordan: Four labor pain-coping methods that included physiological, psychological, spiritual, and cognitive coping were reported. This study confirms previous findings regarding coping methods and adds new knowledge on coping with labor pain among Jordanian parturients: The significance of childbirth education as a means to inform Jordanian women about coping with labor pain is emphasized. This study also highlighted the important roles that nurses and midwives can play as educators and supporters during pregnancy and labor.