[Nursing workloads and working conditions: integrative review]

Area of Science:

• Nursing
• Occupational Health
• Healthcare Management

Background:

• Nursing professionals face significant challenges related to workload and working conditions.
• These factors are increasingly recognized as critical determinants of healthcare quality and safety.
• Understanding the impact of these elements is crucial for improving the nursing profession.

Purpose of the Study:

• To conduct an integrative review of theoretical production on nurse workloads and working conditions.
• To identify key findings and strategies related to managing these factors in nursing.
• To highlight areas for future research in nursing occupational health.

Main Methods:

• An integrative literature review was performed.
• Searches were conducted in two Brazilian databases: Virtual Health Care Library (Biblioteca Virtual de Saúde) and Digital Database of Dissertations (Banco Digital de Teses).
• Studies published within the last ten years were included, with 27 selected from 132 identified.

Main Results:

• Workloads were identified as a primary cause of professional weariness among nurses.
• Excessive workloads contribute to an increased incidence of work accidents and health problems.
• Identified strategies for workload management include adequate staffing levels and improved working conditions.

Conclusions:

• Workloads and working conditions significantly impact the health and safety of the nursing team.
• Implementing strategies such as appropriate staffing and enhanced work environments is recommended.
• Further research is needed to precisely define the relationships between workloads, working conditions, and nursing team health.