Work environment of hospital nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic in Brazil

© 2021 International Council of Nurses..

AIM: To investigate the nurses' work environment in university hospitals during the COVID-19 pandemic in Brazil.

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic brought challenging times for nurses worldwide. In Brazil, as well as in several countries, nurses are working hard in hospital settings caring for patients infected with the virus, sometimes with unfavourable work environment conditions.

METHODS: This study was a convergent embedded mixed methods research. The sample comprised 104 nurses from three Brazilian university hospitals. Data were collected in April-June 2020 from an online questionnaire with a self-reporting Likert scale survey designed to measure the nurses' perceptions of their work environment. Qualitative data in the form of written comments were also collected through an open question. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and content analysis.

RESULTS: The quantitative results showed that the responses to 'I received training on the correct use of personal protective equipment' and 'I am afraid of being infected' items had the best and worst evaluations, respectively. The qualitative findings revealed five themes: feeling of insecurity, lack of personal protective equipment, lack of diagnostic tests, changes in the care flow and fear of the unknown.

CONCLUSION: The study has highlighted the challenges faced by hospital nurses while caring for patients with COVID-19.

IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING AND NURSING POLICY: The gaps identified will assist the policymakers and hospital managers in developing policies to enhance the support offered to nurses and improve the care provided to patients with COVID-19 in university hospitals. The results also indicate the need for attention to the mental health of the professionals due to the increasing workload and treatment of an illness hitherto unknown.

Medienart:

E-Artikel

Erscheinungsjahr:

2021

Erschienen:

2021

Enthalten in:

Zur Gesamtaufnahme - volume:68

Enthalten in:

International nursing review - 68(2021), 2 vom: 18. Juni, Seite 228-237

Sprache:

Englisch

Beteiligte Personen:

Santos, José Luís Guedes Dos [VerfasserIn]
Balsanelli, Alexandre Pazetto [VerfasserIn]
Freitas, Etiane de Oliveira [VerfasserIn]
Menegon, Fernando Henrique Antunes [VerfasserIn]
Carneiro, Ieda Aparecida [VerfasserIn]
Lazzari, Daniele Delacanal [VerfasserIn]
Menezes, Jennifer Aguilar Leocádio De [VerfasserIn]
Erdmann, Alacoque Lorenzini [VerfasserIn]
Camponogara, Silviamar [VerfasserIn]

Links:

Volltext

Themen:

Coronavirus infections
Hospitals
Journal Article
Multicenter Study
Nurse's role
Organization and administration
Pandemics
University
Work environment

Anmerkungen:

Date Completed 04.06.2021

Date Revised 11.11.2023

published: Print-Electronic

Citation Status MEDLINE

doi:

10.1111/inr.12662

funding:

Förderinstitution / Projekttitel:

PPN (Katalog-ID):

NLM321464060