Increased competition in the United States has led to increased intere
st in women's perceptions of their obstetric experience. Family-center
ed postpartum care (FCPPC) was originated to improve women's perceptio
ns of care quality. This study examined differences in and the hypothe
sized relationship between quality and beneficence in a group receivin
g traditional postpartum care (TPPC) and a group receiving FCPPC in a
safety-net hospital in West Tennessee. Both groups had high mean quali
ty and beneficence scores; however, the FCPPC group's scores were sign
ificantly higher than those of the TPPC group. There was a relationshi
p between quality and beneficence for the combined sample. The finding
s suggest that nurses should incorporate FCPPC approaches as a means o
f improving perceived quality and benefits.