Work in hospital emergency: suffering and defensive nursing care strategies

摘要

OBJECTIVE To analyze the suffering factors and defensive strategies of nurses who work in an emergency of a University Hospital. METHOD Qualitative research, with theoretical reference of the Work Psychodynamics performed in a hospital emergency sector in the south of Brazil. The information was obtained through interviews with 18 nurses in 2015, using thematic analysis as a method. RESULTS From the analysis two categories have emerged: Suffering at Work and Defensive Strategies used by nurses. The first category has been split into four under categories: overcrowding, overwork, frustration and insecurity, and finally, conflicts between professionals. From the second category, Defensive Strategies, two under categories have appeared: Individual Strategies and Collective Strategies. FINAL CONSIDERATIONS Suffering at work triggers physical and emotional exhaustion, making it necessary to use collective and individual strategies in order to offer stability, both inside and outside the work environment. Therefore, caring for the worker means promoting a healthy environment for their work process.