Psychic workloads and strain processes in nursing workers of brazilian university hospitals

Vivian Aline Mininel,Patrícia Campos Pavan Baptista,Vanda Elisa Andres Felli

doi:10.1590/s0104-11692011000200016

Vivian Aline Mininel, Patrícia Campos Pavan Baptista + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1590/s0104-11692011000200016

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Abstract

To identify the work process, the psychic workloads and the strains generated in nursing workers. The study was developed in five Brazilian university hospitals. The sample was composed by 62 nursing workers and the data collection was done by focal group technique, followed by the application of a collective inquire. The data were quantitatively described and systematized according to a thematic analysis. The study population represented 35,37% of the hospital workforce in national setting. The workers mentioned are exposure to several kinds of psychic workload and link them to with others workloads, highlighting the strain processes resulting from this kind of workload, such stress, fatigue, complaints of gastritis and headaches. Nursing workers are exposed to several workloads in the hospital environment, especially psychic workloads. This exposure starts strain processes that compromise the health and quality of life, signaling the necessity of interventions in this reality.

Highlights

In Brazil, nursing workers represent the major number among the category inserted in health institutions; they did not receive the same attention from the managers to keep their work capability, quality of life and health
The data analysis allowed the articulation between the strain processes identified and the ways of work, through the workers’ exposure to psychic loads that they are submitted during the work activities
Nursing workers described that psychic workloads resultant from the nature of work a lower impact on the quality of life than the strain generated in work situations and social relationships

Summary

Introduction

In Brazil, nursing workers represent the major number among the category inserted in health institutions; they did not receive the same attention from the managers to keep their work capability, quality of life and health.The conditions in which the nursing work is developed have been described with more emphasis from the eighties[1]. In Brazil, nursing workers represent the major number among the category inserted in health institutions; they did not receive the same attention from the managers to keep their work capability, quality of life and health. Thirty years after the first studies, much it is known about the nursing work conditions, but few interventions proposals have been done to improve this poor reality. Researches highlight that these workers are exposed to several workloads that are generating of strain processes that compromise the workers’ health and quality of life[2,3]. The same authors define the strain’s processes as www.eerp.usp.br/rlae

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