Multicenter study on satisfaction, stress and working conditions in nursing in Latin American countries

to assess the job satisfaction level, stressors and working conditions of nursing professionals in some Latin American countries during the COVID-19 pandemic.

this is a cross-sectional study of nursing professionals working in hospital, primary care, educational, governmental, research, commercial and independent institutions. An online survey was carried out to assess satisfaction with the Font-Roja instrument, sociodemographic characteristics, stress factors and working conditions.

a total of 1,215 workers from Argentina, Colombia, Mexico, Ecuador and Panama participated. The overall satisfaction score was 81.5 (SD:11.6). There was less satisfaction in the dimensions of tension, pressure, extrinsic characteristics and monotony. Increased stress at work (84.3%), workload (81.3%), fear of SARS-CoV-2 (67.7%), uncertainty at work (51.2%) and salary reduction (20.4%) were reported. The work factors related to satisfaction were, as follows: job recommendation, mixed working hours, care work, increased stress, increased workload, salary reduction and purchase of protective equipment.

the aspects of job satisfaction most affected during the pandemic were pressure, tension, lack of independence and monotony at work; this satisfaction was reduced due to increased stress and workload, the acquisition of personal protective equipment and a reduction in salary.