Working conditions of nursing professionals in the context of COVID-19

Abstract

Introduction: the COVID-19 pandemic has increased the number of hospitalizations and is responsible for increasing the workload of nursing professionals with a deficiency in human resources and personal protective equipment. Objective: to analyze aspects related to the working conditions of Nursing professionals in the context of COVID-19. Methods: documentary research recorded under narratives in the databases of the Federal Nursing Council, the Regional Nursing Councils of Espírito Santo and Pernambuco, the Federal Public University and Social Media. Results: are presented and analyzed according to the categories: a) nursing work conditions, threatening the worker’s health and life; b) the autonomy of nurses in the full exercise of their profession and the cultural aspect of the dominant ideology; c) the Federal Nursing Council and the Regional Nursing Councils of Espírito Santo and Pernambuco as disciplining, normalizing, managing and controlling bodies for the professional practice of nursing. Conclusion: the narratives found in this study demonstrate the precarious working conditions, exacerbated by the pandemic, and the role of nursing in coping with COVID-19.