Estresse ocupacional em profissionais de enfermagem de central de materiais e esterilização: revisão integrativa de literatura

Abstract

Nurses in the materials and sterilization center play a fundamental role in ensuring the safety and quality of materials used in surgical procedures and other healthcare services. The objective of this research was to understand the main characteristics of occupational stress among nursing professionals in the materials and sterilization center. This dissertation consists of an integrative literature review, presented in two articles. To construct both, we used the six steps of the Integrative Literature Review, which consist of developing the guiding question; defining the sample, including determining the databases and search strategies; defining or developing the data collection instrument, specifying the items to be extracted from the manuscripts; defining the data analysis methodology; discussing the articles; and presenting the results. The results of this dissertation were presented as the articles. The first sought to identify the main stressors among workers working in Material Sterilization Centers. The main stressors observed were physical overload, a shortage of human and material resources, repetitive work, fragile interpersonal relationships, lack of recognition, night work, and inadequate infrastructure. Furthermore, the study identified a historical devaluation of Material Sterilization Centers, a lack of ongoing training, and underreporting of psychosocial risks. Article 2 analyzed the main measures used to reduce sources of occupational stress among nursing professionals working in the Materials and Sterilization Center. The identified strategies involved complementary integrative practices, such as foot baths, aromatherapy, recreational games, continuing education, and feedback. All demonstrated potential for reducing occupational stress and promoting quality of work life in the Materials and Sterilization Center. It was found that the literature lacks studies evaluating the results of implementing these strategies, with research that only identifies stressors or suggests coping measures prevailing. We conclude that stressors in Materials Sterilization Centers negatively impact workers' physical and mental health, promote absenteeism, and increase the risk of errors and accidents. The gap presented by the scarcity of intervention studies, with the implementation of strategies to reduce stressors, highlights the need for new empirical studies, of an applied nature, capable of measuring the short- and long-term effects of interventions and supporting more consistent institutional policies.