A VIVÊNCIA DO AMBIENTE HOSPITALAR PELA EQUIPE DE ENFERMAGEM

Abstract

Among the typical professional groups in the hospital, the nursing team generally is the one which has the most intense contact with the patient and the institution, because nurses remain for long periods in their work environment and provide continuous direct care to the patient. This entails the physical and psychological wellbeing of this team is important for the quality of the services provided by the hospital. Therefore, a better understanding of the team and its needs is warranted. As the nursing professional is most intensely exposed to the structure of the institution, the relationships and the work environment, all of these may interfere in important ways in the services provided. The present study intends to explore how the nursing team in a small hospital in the state of Goias, in the Brazilian heartland, experiences its work environment. The study proposes a Grounded Theory analysis based on field observation and interviews with 17 nursing professionals. The results suggest that the team views the architecture of the hospital as inadequate in what concerns the special proportions, visual comfort and air circulation. They also feel a lack of contact with nature. Visual comfort can be improved by the integration of nature in the spaces, the creation of a garden, improvement of colors and illumination. Interpersonal relations with patients and colleagues are experienced as positive. Conflicts can occur in the team and interfere with patient care. But patient discomfort is attributed to institutional problems. The participants claim they love their profession and are aware of the importance of both teamwork and individual involvement. They feel they should be allowed more participation in decisions. The study shows that participants experience of their work environment includes a political-organizational dimension. Many participants express understanding for the problems on the management level, but they also have demands, criticisms and suggestions to offer to organizational leadership. While feeling too distant from the centers of power, they also identify various ways in which they can manage practical problems and cope with difficulties that are due to structural deficits.