Nursing Hospital Workers Facing Functional Readaptation by Illness: Difficulties Experienced and Actions Undertaken

Abstract

Objectives: to know the difficulties experienced and the actions undertaken by hospital nursing workers in the process of functional readaptation by illness. Method: this is a qualitative, descriptive and exploratory study, conducted in a teaching hospital in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, with 16 workers, through semi-structured individual interviews. Data were collected from September to November 2018, analyzed according to thematic content analysis and the Socio-Humanist Theory theoretical framework. Results: at the personal level, the difficulties focused on the ignorance of the process, adaptation to a new sector, financial impact, difficulty in accepting the new condition and feeling of guilt and uselessness by labor restrictions. In the organizational scope, they were the lack of and need for personnel training, overload, inadequate infrastructure and collections, monitoring, monitoring and institutional care. In the context of interpersonal relationships, because they do not feel well received, competitive environment, lack of team acceptance, high number of attested, lack of understanding, dialogue, empathy of co-workers. The actions undertaken were seeking help from health professionals, co-workers, complementary and spiritual therapies, development of self-acceptance and construction of new bonds outside of work. Conclusion: difficulties permeate an internal process for workers, changes in personal life, relational challenges with peers and the institution. The actions of search for professional, spiritual and other support of other people are important in the process of self-acceptance, management of physical and/or psychic signs and symptoms and improvement of quality of life.