Nursing: experiences and working conditions in hospital care for people with Covid-19

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.17765/2176-9206.2026v19e13386

Keywords:

Working Conditions, Nursing Team, Nursing, Hospitals, COVID-19

Abstract

The objective of this study was to understand the experiences and working conditions of Nursing professionals who worked in hospital institutions providing care to individuals with suspected or confirmed COVID-19. This was a qualitative study conducted with 20 Nursing professionals from two hospital institutions in western Paraná, Brazil, using semi-structured interviews and Thematic Content Analysis. The institutions adapted their infrastructure, carried out emergency hiring, and implemented new demands, protocols, and care flows in their services. Nursing professionals experienced several challenges and difficulties, including extended working hours, prolonged use of personal protective equipment, and increased risks to workers’ health due to the complexity of procedures and techniques, all while maintaining their commitment to nursing care. It is concluded that these experiences highlight the role of Nursing professionals in caring for individuals with suspected or confirmed COVID-19, which, although shaped by individual particularities, converge toward common and collective vulnerabilities and risks inherent to the pandemic context.

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Author Biographies

Wilton José de Carvalho Silva, Universidade Estadual do Oeste do Paraná

Master's student in the Postgraduate Program in Public Health in the Border Region (UNIOESTE). Nurse (Bachelor's and Licentiate) from the Federal University of Paraíba (UFPB). Technician in Business Administration from the National Service for Commercial Learning (SENAC-PE). Member of the Center for Studies and Research in Bioethics (NEPB) of UFPB. He was an intern at Rômulo Passos Cursos para Concursos (2015-2016). He was an extension agent for PET-Saúde GraduaSUS (2016-2017); for the Toxicological Assistance Center/CEATOX-PB (2013-2015); and for the research project: Care for hypertensive and diabetic patients in a Family Health Unit in João Pessoa-PB. During his undergraduate studies, he was a monitor in the discipline Administration and Management of Health Care Services (2015-2016). Nursing Course Completion Project: QUALITY OF LIFE AND ACQUIRED IMMUNODEFICIENCY SYNDROME: bibliometric study. He is currently a partner at Empodera Consultoria Acadêmica.

Marta Cossetin Costa, State University of West of Parana

Phd in Nursing from the Federal University of Paraná and a Master's in Education from the Western Paraná State University. Bachelor's degree in Nursing (2006) from the Western Paraná State University, a specialization in Emergency Care from the Paranavaí State College of Education, Sciences, and Letters, and a specialization in Public Management with an emphasis on SUS (Unified Health System) from the Ponta Grossa State University. She works as a nurse at the Foz do Iguaçu State Penitentiary, affiliated with the State Secretariat of Public Security and Penitentiary Administration, Paraná State, and as a temporary faculty member at the Western Paraná State University. She has experience in Nursing, with an emphasis on public health, adult health, nursing care in prisons, and salutogenesis. Member of the international research network on vulnerability, health, safety and quality of life of the elderly: Brazil, Portugal, Spain, France, Chile, Mexico, United States and Argentina (Approved in Notice No. 01/2020 - Research Networks/UFRN, 2020-Current).

Adriana Zilly, State University of West of Parana

MSc, PhD. Adjunct Professor at Master Degree of Public Health in Border Region. Dept. of Education and Health. State University of West of Parana/Unioeste. Iguassu Falls, Brazil.

Maria Eliane Moreira Freire, Federal University of Paraíba

Nurse graduated from the Federal University of Paraíba - UFPB (1985), Specialist in Hospital Administration from the University of Ribeirão Preto - SP (1995), Specialist in Higher Education Methodology from the João Pessoa University Center UNIPÊ (1997), Specialist in Palliative Care from Santa Cecília University (2013). Master in Nursing from the Federal University of Paraíba (2001) and Doctor of Science from the Fundamental Nursing Program of the Ribeirão Preto School of Nursing - EERP / USP (2014). Associate Professor II, Department of Clinical Nursing of the Center of Health Sciences of UFPB. Accredited as a Permanent Professor in the Graduate Program in Nursing (PPGENF) of UFPB. Member of the Center for Studies and Research in Bioethics and Palliative Care (NEPBCP) and Vice-Leader of the Center for Studies and Research in Infectious Diseases and Quality of Life (NEPAIQV). Vice-Coordinator of the Doctoral course of the Cooperation Project between Institutions (PCI) of PPGENF- UFPB / IFPE. Coordinator of the Research Ethics Committee at HULW - UFPB. She has experience in nursing, with an emphasis on systematic care for adults and older adults with chronic communicable and non-communicable diseases, and palliative care. She conducts research and supervises scientific work at the undergraduate and graduate levels, with an emphasis on care for adults and older adults in the context of infectious and parasitic diseases, palliative care, and health-related quality of life.

Ana Cristina de Oliveira e Silva, Federal University of Paraíba

Associate Professor at UFPB, linked to the Department of Clinical Nursing, in the discipline Adult and Elderly Health. Permanent Professor of the Postgraduate Program in Nursing - PPGENF / UFPB. He has a PhD from the University of São Paulo - USP in the Postgraduate Program in Fundamental Nursing. He has a Master's degree in Public Health Nursing from the Federal University of Paraíba - UFPB (2006). He has a degree in General Nursing from the Federal University of Paraíba - UFPB (2002). He has a specialization in Public Health from the State University of Paraíba - UEPB (2003), a specialization in Management and Auditing in the health area and Pedagogical Training in the Health Area from FIOCRUZ (2005). . Leader of the Center for Studies and Research in Infectious Diseases and Quality of Life - NEPAIQV (certified by CNPq). She has experience in the area of ​​Nursing, with an emphasis on Public Health. Working mainly on the following topics: Health surveillance (Occupational health, Communicable diseases and conditions - Hepatitis, Syphilis, HIV, COVID-19), Adult health (vulnerable populations), Quality of life.

Maria Aparecida Baggio, Western Paraná State University

PhD in Nursing from the Federal University of Santa Catarina (2012), with development of a sandwich doctorate at the Higher School of Nursing of Coimbra, Portugal (2010); Master's degree in Nursing from the Federal University of Santa Catarina (2008), Specialization in Pedagogical Training in Professional Education from the National School of Public Health and Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (2005), Master's degree in Human Health Sciences from the University of Contestado (2004), Bachelor's degree in Nursing from the University of Passo Fundo (2000). She is currently a professor at the State University of Western Paraná (UNIOESTE), at the Center for Biological and Health Sciences (CCBS), Cascavel campus. She works in the Undergraduate Course in Nursing, in the discipline Nursing in Women's Health: gynecology and obstetrics, Cascavel campus; in the Obstetric Nursing Residency Program, in the subjects Care Process in the Postpartum Period and Breastfeeding I and II and Good Obstetric Practices, Cascavel campus; in the Postgraduate Program in Public Health in Border Regions (Stricto Sensu), in the subjects Care in the Health-Disease Process in Border Regions and Qualitative Research in Public Health, Foz do Iguaçu campus; in the Interinstitutional Academic Doctorate and Master's Course (DINTER/MINTER) of the Postgraduate Program in Nursing of the Federal University of Paraná with the State University of Western Paraná, Cascavel campus. Leader of the Maternal-Child Nursing Research Group (GPEMI), of the CCBS, of UNIOESTE, Cascavel campus. Associate Professor, level A. Mother of Pedro, Bruno and Laura, ages 13, 10 and 7, respectively, and wife of André.

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Published

2026-04-02

How to Cite

Silva, W. J. de C., Costa, M. C., Zilly, A., Freire, M. E. M., Silva, A. C. de O. e, & Baggio, M. A. (2026). Nursing: experiences and working conditions in hospital care for people with Covid-19. Saúde E Pesquisa, 19, e13386. https://doi.org/10.17765/2176-9206.2026v19e13386

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