Fatores estressores em unidade de terapia intensiva: implicações para a saúde e assistência do trabalhador da enfermagem.

Abstract

the Intensive Care Units (ICUs) are complex care environments, whose purpose is assisting serious patients. In this sector, the process of nursing work can be permeated by several stressors agents and constant exposure to these; can reflect on the quality of nursing care and in the health of these workers. Objective: identifying the stressing factors in the process of nursing work in Intensive Care Unit and its implications for the health and care of nursing professionals. Methodology: this is a descriptive study with a qualitative approach carried out during the period from December 2014 to January 2015, with nurses and nursing technicians of adult and pediatric ICUs mixed University Hospital Alcides Castro, da Federal University of Campina Grande (UFCG) in Campina Grande-PB, Brazil. The following inclusion criteria were considered: a) being a professional with middle or higher level of nursing course; b) having time to work from 12 months in ICU; and c) accepting to participate freely in research through the signature of informed consent (TFCC).In addition, for delimitation of the sample, it was considered the data saturation criterion, which was achieved by interview of 16 nursing professionals. The data were collected through interview subsidized by a semi-structured instrument and analyzed by means of thematic content analysis technique proposed by Laurence Bardin, being discussed in the light of relevant literature. It should be noted that this survey obeyed the ethical precepts of Resolution 466/12 that regulates research involving human subjects and was held only after approval by the Research Ethics Committee of the UFCG, under number CAEE: 3784114.1.0000.5575 and Protocol 892.978.Results: through the analysis of empirical data, it was identified that the most frequent stressors factors that affect the nursing staff, were: the physical agents such as alarm buzzers, cold environment among others; the shortfall in material resources and interpersonal conflicts. Participants reported signs and symptoms/diseases related to conviviality constants with the stressors in the work process factors in ICU, namely: insomnia, muscle and bone pains, the sinusitis, allergic processes, work-related musculoskeletal disease (CTD), the dryness of the hands and tiredness. Furthermore, it mentioned that their assistance and health can be harmed with continual exposure to stressing factors. As strategies to minimize this problem, there were suggested moments of occupational therapy, team meetings and adequacy of the framework for professionals. Final considerations: through this study, it was possible to recognizing the main stressing factors in the process of nursing work in ICU. Thus, these findings may subsidize the knowledge of local managers, on the adoption of measures which include worker's health, regarding the implementation of practices of labor activities for the promotion of health and prevention of aggravations nursing staff specialized in this scenario of care.