Stress Disorders Archives - Revista Brasileira de Enfermagem

ABSTRACT

Objectives:

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.