Working conditions of nurses in intensive care and emergency services During the covid-19 pandemic

As the Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) disease pandemic accelerated in the world, there was great psychological pressure on nurses who were on the front line of care. This study evaluated nurses' perceptions of the working conditions experienced in intensive care and emergency units during the COVID-19 pandemic. This was a qualitative study carried out in a capital city of northeastern Brazil from May to September 2020. The collection took place in eight health services directed to the care of COVID-19. Forty-six nurses were interviewed. The results were systematized and analyzed using the Condensation of Meanings interview analysis model as a reference. The results showed that the working conditions were evaluated positively in relation to the availability of individual protection equipment, good quality materials and institutional support, but the overload of work and the need to adapt the structure in hospitals, with the readjustment of locations was seen as a point of difficulty. Overload of work and psychosocial suffering of nurses were observed. The results are expected to contribute to the awareness of managers in the prevention and promotion of occupational health in intensive care units and emergency services.