Nursing work organization in long-stay institutions for the elderly: relationship to pleasure and suffering at work

Pâmela Patricia Mariano,Vanessa Denardi Antoniassi Baldissera,Júlia Trevisan Martins,Lígia Carreira

doi:10.1590/0104-070720150-1150014

Abstract

The aim of this study was to understand the nursing work organization in long-stay institutions for the elderly and its relationship to pleasure and suffering at work. Data were collected through observation and interviews between April and September 2013 and submitted to content analysis, in light of Dejours' psychodynamics of work theory. Professionals experience suffering as they face physical exertion, a fast-paced work environment and repetitive routines, limited human resources, accumulation of responsibilities and lack of medical service in the institution. Pleasure is experienced through the division of labor among workers, staff's good working relationships, freedom to change the work organization and the possibility of creating a bond with the elderly. The study provides subsidies for planning adequacies in the nursing work organization at these institutions, which will improve the workers' relationship to their work activities.

Highlights

Work involves tasks and activities, with “tasks” being what it requested to be done, and “activities”, the actual work while performing a task, being divided in “requested work” and “actual work”, respectively.[1]
This work can be a source of suffering, it provides, on the other hand, experiences of pleasure, because through it people build their lives and are inserted into the labor market, as a means of survival, and for personal and professional fulfillment.[4]
Five workers were included in long-stay institutions for the elderly (LSIE) A; six in LSIE B; seven in LSIE C; three workers in LSIE D; two in LSIE E; and four were interviewed in LSIE F

Summary

Introduction

Work involves tasks and activities, with “tasks” being what it requested to be done, and “activities”, the actual work while performing a task, being divided in “requested work” and “actual work”, respectively.[1] Work organization is the factor that will lead to an activity’s development It consists of the division of labor, job content and power relationships involving the hierarchical system.[2]. People are in daily contact with work organization in their labor context. When the organization does not take into account the employees’ needs and expectations and blocks their adaptation possibilities, suffering emerges, which can reverberate in job satisfaction, their personal lives and health.[3] this work can be a source of suffering, it provides, on the other hand, experiences of pleasure, because through it people build their lives and are inserted into the labor market, as a means of survival, and for personal and professional fulfillment.[4]

Objectives

Methods

Results