Nurses' workload during the COVID-19 pandemic: potential for experiences of moral distress

Rev Bras Enferm. 2024 Mar 18;77Suppl 4(Suppl 4):e20230200. doi: 10.1590/0034-7167-2023-0200. eCollection 2024.ABSTRACTOBJECTIVES: to understand nurses' experiences of moral distress related to work overload during the COVID-19 pandemic in Brazil.METHODS: qualitative research, whose data collection occurred through individual interviews with 19 nurses who worked on the front line of COVID-19 in health services in southeastern Brazil. Data were analyzed using thematic content analysis.RESULTS: work overload proved to be a powerful source of experiences of moral distress due to excessive working hours during vaccination, double working hours, a troubled relationship due to pressure from managers and the population and physical and mental exhaustion, which prevented nurses from act according to their judgment.FINAL CONSIDERATIONS: nurses' work overload reflects on quality patient care and prevents nurses from acting in accordance with their moral principles, generating moral distress in nurses.PMID:38511826 | PMC:PMC10946119 | DOI:10.1590/0034-7167-2023-0200
Source: Revista Brasileira de Enfermagem - Category: Nursing Authors: Source Type: research