[Obstetric Nurses: contributions to the objectives of the Millennium Development Goals].

OBJECTIVE: To characterize and analyze assistance to labor and delivery performed by residents in Obstetric Nursing.

METHOD: Quantitative and retrospective study of 189 normal births attended by residents in Obstetric Nursing in the period between July 2013 and June 2014 in a maternity hospital located in the countryside of Rio Grande do Sul. Data collection took place by gathering information from medical records and the analysis was performed using descriptive statistics.

RESULTS: It was found the wide use of non-invasive and non-pharmacological pain relief and freedom of position during labor. It is noteworthy that 55.6% of women have not undergone any obstetric intervention.

CONCLUSIONS: It was possible to identify that the Nursing Residency Program allows the reduction of obstetrical interventions, reflecting directly in the improvement of maternal health.