Psychological exhaustion of nursing professionals who care for patients with neoplasms.

OBJECTIVE: Identify, analyze and understand the social representations of nursing professionals about burnout syndrome. METHOD: Qualitative study with nursing professionals who worked in the direct assistance to oncologic patients, conducted through semi-structured interview, using the technique of content analysis, anchoring the interpretations in the theory of social representations. RESULTS: Seven professionals participated; after analysis, two categories emerged: "The stress of professionals, the naturalization of suffering and self-care strategies"; and "Ressignifications, learning in the oncologic sector and network gaps". The representations about stress and the relationship of the professionals with the daily practice were predominant. FINAL CONSIDERATIONS: The nursing professionals represented the burnout syndrome socially as stress and made important reflections on the subject in the context of daily work. Concepts that determine the behavior of professionals were perceived as mechanisms of confrontation. In the vision of this social group, spirituality was revealed as a therapeutic strategy.

Cancer care in the COVID-19 era and psychosocial impacts on oncology nursing in Brazil.

INTRODUCTION: Globally, Brazil has the third highest number of confirmed COVID-19 cases and the second highest number of deaths related to COVID-19 at the time of writing. Maintaining cancer care has been a challenge for patient safety and for the physical and mental health of oncology nurses. OBJECTIVES: To describe which effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on cancer care could already be evaluated and to identify the psychosocial impact on cancer nurses in Brazil. METHOD: Reflective, analytical, qualitative study. RESULTS: Although the Brazilian cancer care policy has reached important achievements in overcoming access barriers to cancer diagnosis and treatment over the past decade, the COVID-19 pandemic has caused losses of timely access to health services for patients with cancer, which has compromised screening, early diagnosis and treatment, and patient follow-up. Oncology nurses have actively participated in the management and assistance strategies during the pandemic. This path has generated an increase in oncology nurses' workload, leading to physical and mental stress and anxiety related to the fear of contagion for themselves and their family. CONCLUSION: The pandemic has affected the care of cancer patients, with the potential to suffer greater losses because of reductions in screening, early diagnosis and treatment, and patient follow-up. In addition to the worsening of the cancer setting, the COVID-19 pandemic has overwhelmed Brazilian oncology nurses, physically and mentally.

Psychological exhaustion of nursing professionals who care for patients with neoplasms / Agotamiento psicológico de profesionales de enfermería que cuidan de pacientes con neoplasias / Esgotamento psicológico de profissionais de enfermagem que cuidam de pacientes com neoplasias

ABSTRACT Objective: Identify, analyze and understand the social representations of nursing professionals about burnout syndrome. Method: Qualitative study with nursing professionals who worked in the direct assistance to oncologic patients, conducted through semi-structured interview, using the technique of content analysis, anchoring the interpretations in the theory of social representations. Results: Seven professionals participated; after analysis, two categories emerged: "The stress of professionals, the naturalization of suffering and self-care strategies"; and "Ressignifications, learning in the oncologic sector and network gaps". The representations about stress and the relationship of the professionals with the daily practice were predominant. Final Considerations: The nursing professionals represented the burnout syndrome socially as stress and made important reflections on the subject in the context of daily work. Concepts that determine the behavior of professionals were perceived as mechanisms of confrontation. In the vision of this social group, spirituality was revealed as a therapeutic strategy.

RESUMEN Objetivo: Identificar, analizar y comprender representaciones sociales de profesionales de enfermería sobre el síndrome de burnout. Método: Estudio cualitativo con profesionales de enfermería que actuaban en asistencia directa a pacientes oncológicos, conducido mediante entrevista semiestructurada, con uso de técnica de análisis de contenido, basado en la teoría de las representaciones sociales. Resultados: Participaron siete profesionales; tras análisis, emergieron dos categorías: "El estrés de los profesionales, la naturalización del sufrimiento y estrategias de autocuidado"; y "Resignificaciones, aprendizajes en el sector oncológico y las lagunas de la red". Predominaron las representaciones sobre estrés y relación de profesionales con el cotidiano de la práctica. Consideraciones finales: Profesionales de enfermería representaron socialmente el síndrome de burnout como estrés e hicieron reflexiones sobre la temática en el contexto de trabajo cotidiano. Conceptos que determinan el comportamiento de profesionales han percibidos cuando mecanismos de enfrentamiento. La espiritualidad se reveló como estrategia terapéutica.

RESUMO Objetivo: Identificar, analisar e compreender as representações sociais dos profissionais de enfermagem sobre a síndrome de burnout. Método: Estudo qualitativo com profissionais de enfermagem que atuavam na assistência direta a pacientes oncológicos, conduzido mediante entrevista semiestruturada, com uso da técnica de análise de conteúdo, ancorando as interpretações na teoria das representações sociais. Resultados: Participaram sete profissionais; após análise, emergiram duas categorias: "O estresse dos profissionais, a naturalização do sofrimento e estratégias de autocuidado"; e "Ressignificações, aprendizados no setor oncológico e as lacunas da rede". Predominaram as representações sobre estresse e relação dos profissionais com o cotidiano da prática. Considerações finais: Os profissionais de enfermagem representaram socialmente a síndrome de burnout como estresse e fizeram reflexões importantes sobre a temática no contexto de trabalho cotidiano. Conceitos que determinam o comportamento dos profissionais foram percebidos enquanto mecanismos de enfrentamento. Na visão desse grupo social, a espiritualidade revelou-se como estratégia terapêutica.