THE ROOTS OF STRESS ARE NOT INDIVIDUAL: GROUNDED-THEORY BASED INTERVENTIONAL MODEL FOR NURSES

The use of Grounded Theory is growing in nursing research, as a scientifically rigorous method that allows giving meaning to situations experienced by human beings and creating a theory based on data from these experiences. To propose an intervention model for occupational stress in nurses working in Urgency and Emergency Care Services, it was used a qualitative approach based on Symbolic Interactionism and Grounded Theory as theoretical and methodological frameworks, respectively. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and were analyzed using open, axial and selective coding. Participants were ten nurses with one or more years of experience at that Care Services at a university-affiliated hospital. Two categories of underlying stress factors for nurses were identified: “Inadequate work conditions” and “Non-existent or low-quality care policies”. Thus, we reached a situational diagnosis and, from there, indicators of structure and processes to be considered in strategic management plans, both for worker health and patient safety. All participants reported very similar stress-inducing situations, regardless of working with children or adult or the shift and duration of their relevant work experience. Participants´ analysis emphasized the need to review and improve working conditions and to implement policies that support the quality of health care professionals.