Occupational stressors derived from COVID-19 that impact the work performance of nursing professionals

Abstract

Introduction: There is little research on the work stressors caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and the ways in which nursing professionals in Latin America coped with them. El Salvador was one of the countries most affected by COVID-19; working conditions, use of personal protective equipment, and protocol changes in health care gave rise to a new range of work stressors. Objective: to analyze occupational stressors derived from the COVID-19 pandemic that affect the work performance of nursing professionals at the Saldaña National Hospital. Methodology: The study was qualitative, phenomenological and narrative, in 21 nursing professionals, who narrated their experiences through a directed interview; the immersion technique was applied to the seven service areas of the Saldaña Hospital, with an observation guide and a field diary. The data from both techniques were analyzed through axial, selective and interpretive coding analysis processes. Results: The "Pandemic experiences" category established a system of stressor relationships that continues to influence labor demand, quality of patient care and perception of low job and salary stability. By triangulating the information, consistency was found between the bibliographic method, field observation and immersion, and the data provided by the participants. Conclusions: The work performance of nursing professionals is influenced by work stressors, conditions and occupational risks categorized based on experiences during the COVID-19 health emergency. Organizational intervention for psychological coping and emotional support is necessary to reduce the effects of post-traumatic stress, as well as to improve working conditions.