Fatores estressores e as estratégias de enfrentamento utilizadas por enfermeiros em tempos de pandemia.

Abstract

The stress generated in the work environment appears in the health field as a real problem among nursing professionals, mainly due to the exhaustive characteristics of their activities. More critical moments, such as pandemics, put nursing professionals at the forefront, in providing care and assistance to challenging and unknown situations. Objective: To characterize the stress factors among nurses and the coping strategies used by them in times of pandemic. Method: Qualitative, descriptive, and exploratory study developed with 8 nurses who work in the health services of primary and secondary care in the municipality of Cuité, Paraíba, Brazil. The data were collected between September and November 2020 and the participants answered a questionnaire made available on the Google Forms platform. The collected material was selected through thematic analysis. Results: From the analysis of the testimonies, three thematic categories emerged: Category I - Stress factors related to the nursing work process; Category II - Stress factors experienced by the professional nurse in the context of the pandemic; Category III - Psychological suffering and mental illness: symptoms and coping strategies. Work overload, professional devaluation, and lack of material resources were some stressors related to the profession. With the emergence of the pandemic, factors such as fear of contamination, injuries caused by the use of Personal Protective Equipment, the lack of training, and conflicts between team members were reported. In addition, the main symptoms presented were: Insomnia, tachycardia, and suicidal ideation and as coping strategies, the use of Policy for Integrative and Complementary Practices, and the practice of leisure activities were the main forms presented. Final considerations: It is possible to perceive the mental exhaustion that has been faced by professionals in the front line of the fight against COVID-19. From this, there was a need for attention focused on the mental health of these professionals who are overloaded and weakened in the physical and especially psychological environment. A profession that consists of taking care of others requires, now more than ever, to be cared for and supported.