The experience of nursing professionals in high-risk obstetric emergency services in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

Objective To analyze the strategies, challenges, and coping mechanisms of nursing professionals who worked in obstetric emergencies in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. Method This was a qualitative descriptive exploratory study with nine nursing professionals who worked at a high-risk obstetric emergency service in Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil. Data were collected using a focus group carried out in November 2021. The data were organized into themes and analyzed according to the current literature. Results Based on the experiences of the participants, three themes emerged: 1) coping mechanisms adopted in the COVID-19 pandemic; 2) challenges experienced by nursing professionals in their care activities in the pandemic; and 3) challenges and repercussions experienced by nursing professionals in care activities. The professionals reported unsafe and conflicting conditions in which care flows suffered unexpected changes and which created challenges to provide users with safe and empathetic care. Final considerations and implications for practice The professionals presented emotional and psychological fragility because of long work periods, constant changes in care flows and protocols, work overload, understaffing due to professionals infected with COVID-19 or medical leaves of absence due to depression or other psychological disorders.