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Defense strategies in the nursing work environment of long-stay institutions for the elderly
Pâmela Patricia Mariano1, Lígia Carreira2
1Universidade Estadual de Maringá (UEM), Programa de Pós-Graduação em Enfermagem. Maringá, Paraná, Brasil.
Objective:
To describe the defense strategies used by nurses working in long-stay institutions for the elderly when faced with work environment distress.
Methodology:
Descriptive, exploratory and qualitative research performed through interviews held with 27 nurses at long-stay institutions for the elderly between April and September 2013. Data analysis was performed through content analysis and the theory known as work psychodynamics.
Results:
The strategies used were: considering death as something natural, understanding death of those in critical condition as the end to a sufferable condition, understanding the patient's resistance as a symptom of disease and senility, limit the reach of work problems in their personal life, and restrict the affective involvement with patients.
Conclusion:
The nursing professionals indicated the development of individual defense strategies - grouped as protection, adaptation and exploitation measures - in order to deal with situations that generate distress in their work environment.
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