Brazilian nurses’ perception of professional and personal stress during the COVID-19 pandemic
Percepción de enfermeros y enfermeras brasileños sobre el estrés profesional y personal durante la pandemia de COVID-19
Percepção de enfermeiros e enfermeiras brasileiros sobre estresse profissional e pessoal durante a pandemia de COVID-19
José Luís Guedes dos Santos; Kaiane Neves; Marcella Gabrielle Betat; Messias Lemos; Glauber Weder dos Santos Silva; Giulia Gazineo Trindade Assis; Marluci Andrade Conceição Stipp; Liana Amorim Corrêa Trotte; Javier Isidro Rodríguez López; Allison Patricia Squires
Abstract
Objective to describe Brazilian nurses’ perspectives on the sources of work-related and personal stress sources during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Method a qualitative, descriptive study conducted in a virtual environment with 308 Brazilian nurses between April 2022 and September 2023. The Qualtrics XM Survey software was used for data collection, and content analysis was conducted using the IRaMuTeQ software.
Results the main causes of work-related stress were fear of infection, work overload, changes in the work environment and psychological impact. On a personal level, fear of death, social isolation, anxiety, worries about family members’ health and economic difficulties were the main stressors. The vaccine brought relief and hope, but emotional challenges and the need for psychological recovery remained.
Final considerations and implications for practice Brazilian nurses faced numerous professional and personal stressors. Understanding this is critical to developing support and coping strategies during health crises. Implications for practice include promoting mental health, improving working conditions, strengthening social and institutional support and building resilience.
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Resumo
Objetivo: descrever a perspectiva de enfermeiros e enfermeiras brasileiros sobre as fontes de estresse relacionadas ao trabalho e à vida pessoal durante a pandemia de COVID-19.
Método: estudo qualitativo, descritivo, conduzido em ambiente virtual com 308 enfermeiros e enfermeiras brasileiros entre abril de 2022 e setembro de 2023. Utilizou-se o software Qualtrics XM Survey para coleta de dados, e a análise de conteúdo foi realizada com auxílio do software IRaMuTeQ.
Resultados: as principais fontes de estresse relacionadas ao trabalho foram o medo da infecção, a sobrecarga de trabalho, as mudanças no ambiente de trabalho e o impacto psicológico. No âmbito pessoal, o medo da morte, o isolamento social, a ansiedade, as preocupações com a saúde de familiares e as dificuldades econômicas foram os principais estressores. A vacina trouxe alívio e esperança, mas os desafios emocionais e a necessidade de recuperação psicológica persistiram.
Considerações finais e implicações para a prática: os enfermeiros e enfermeiras brasileiros enfrentaram múltiplos fatores de estresse profissional e pessoal. A compreensão disso é crucial para o desenvolvimento de estratégias de apoio e enfrentamento em crises sanitárias. As implicações para a prática incluem a promoção da saúde mental, a melhoria das condições de trabalho, o fortalecimento do apoio social e institucional e o desenvolvimento da resiliência.
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Referências
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Aceito em:
05/06/2025
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