Stress in nursing workers caring for people with COVID-19.

OBJECTIVES

to analyze stress from the perspective of nursing workers caring for people with COVID-19 in a public hospital in the Recôncavo region of Bahia.

METHODS

this is an exploratory qualitative study, conducted through semi-structured interviews. The data were analyzed using word clouds, similarity trees, and content analysis.

RESULTS

nursing workers were exposed to stress while attending to patients with COVID-19. The reported stressors in the workplace included: work overload, lack of planning, speed in performing tasks, fatigue, lack of participation in decision-making, lack of support from management, technological changes, excessive responsibility without preparation, interpersonal conflicts, and professional undervaluation.

CONCLUSIONS

exposure to these stressors leads to emotional exhaustion and demotivation, which were intensified during the COVID-19 pandemic.