Stress in the kaleidoscope of nursing in the ICU of a university hospital in Natal-RN

Resumo

Objectives: the present study aimed to analyze the stress on the nursing staff of intensive care at the Teaching Hospital Onofre Lopes. Methodology: the study sample consisted of thirty-eight (38) nursing professionals, including technicians and nurses working in the ICU of the hospital. Data was collected from September to November 2011 in two stages. The first was the application of the Lipp Stress Symptoms Inventory (LSSI), which allowed us to measure the stress phase in which each team member was. After that, data were tabulated in Microsoft Excel spreadsheets and analyzed according to the 2010 inventory guidelines proposed by the author. After this analysis it was possible to complete the second phase of the research, which consisted of a semi-structured interview designed for those workers who were in the second phase of stress, resistance. Data analysis was based on Bardin (2004) content analysis, enabling the creation of categories based on grouping the ideas present in the interviewees' statements. Results: it was found that the study population was mostly female (78.9%) aged from 30 to 39 years (50%), married (52.3%) and with dual-employment (65.7%). The most predominant phase, according to the Lipp inventory, was the stress resistance, present in 44.7% of the team and having as most predominant physical symptoms the constant feeling of physical exhaustion, verified in 16.8% of the participants, and psychological, the excessive irritability and emotional sensitivity in 26.3%. Regarding the qualitative data it was possible to establish three categories and four subcategories, with the following categories: the care organization in intensive care; the excessive work of nursing professionals; and the interpersonal relationships of the nursing staff in the ICU. And as subcategories: the organization of work as source of pressure and charges; night work and their consequences to the health of these professionals; the body showing the signs and symptoms of stress; and deficient communication between the team members. Conclusion: thus, this study allowed the visualization of the stress phenomenon on nursing staff of the Teaching Hospital Onofre Lopes as a kaleidoscope of thoughts, feelings and experiences perceived by these professionals in different areas of their lives. It was also verified that the strengthening of the stress theme among  nursing professionals need to be exploited and stimulated in several nursing areas of discussion so these workers are encouraged to take better care of themselves so they can take care of others health.