A atuação da equipe de enfermagem em Unidade de Terapia Intensiva para pacientes com Covid-19: percepções sobre o trabalho, impacto socioemocional e estratégias de enfrentamento

Abstract

This is a qualitative, descriptive and exploratory research that aims to understand the work process, the socio-emotional impact and the coping strategies of the nursing team working in the Intensive Care Unit for patients with Covid-19. The research was a strength in two studies; in both, they carried out individual semi-structured interviews with eight management nurses, seven assistant nurses and 13 nursing technicians who worked in that sector during a pandemic. In Study 1, the objective was to understand the work process of the nursing team working in the Intensive Care Unit for the care of patients with Covid-19. Study 2, on the other hand, aimed to understand the socio-emotional impact and coping strategies experienced by the nursing team working in the Intensive Care Unit during the Covid-19 pandemic. The answers given by the interviewees about their experiences regarding working in the Covid-19 Intensive Care Unit were analyzed through inductive thematic analysis for the two studies. Study 1 clarified that the work process in an intensive sector for the care of patients with Covid-19 was permeated by several factors that were associated with work overload, pressure inherent to the institution and society, in addition to the unfavorable prognosis of patients, the which culminated in a significant number of deaths. In this context of high mortality, the process of recognizing bodies by family members and the assignment related to packing the body in an impermeable bag was also part of the routine of these workers. Despite these elements, the pandemic reality and the work process also made it possible to analyze the context from a positive perspective, and the transformations were associated with opportunities for technical-scientific learning, emotional intelligence, maturation and insertion in the job market. In addition, vaccination provided professionals with greater security in the face of the pandemic. The experience and work process in the intensive sector for patients with Covid-19 allowed nursing professionals to reflect on the ephemerality of life and, consequently, its appreciation. Study 2 showed that the socio-emotional impact arising from the pandemic context for nursing professionals was significant, coming from the remarkable stories lived with patients in their last moments of life, fear of contamination, hopelessness, anxiety, fatigue and stress. Some workers referred to a stiffening of feelings; others, to greater sensitivity and empathy. As for coping strategies, self-care, follow-up with psychiatrists, psychologists and the establishment of support networks, such as family members and co-workers, were management modalities. The deprivation of external information, especially from the media, the need to separate professional and personal life and the support resulting from spirituality and religiosity were also identified as strategies. The research revealed that the performance of the nursing team in the Intensive Care Unit for patients with Covid-19 was impactful, both for the work process and for the socio-emotional involvement arising from the fear of contamination and the daily and direct experience with illness and death, being necessary to recruit management strategies to face the pandemic.