When Work Loses Its Meaning: Suffering Among Nurses in a Brazilian University Hospital

Objective: To understand the experiences of suffering among nurses in hospital work. Method: A single holistic, descriptive case study with a qualitative approach was conducted at the University Hospital of the Federal University of Pelotas, Brazil, with 32 nurses. Data were collected in April and May 2023, in three sequential stages, through vignettes and in-depth individual interviews, subjected to Thematic Analysis. The Psychodynamics of Work by Christophe Dejours was adopted as the theoretical framework. Results: Six themes were defined and revealed the main experiences of suffering among nurses: physical and psychological suffering, resulting from excessive workload, discomfort of patients and family members, inadequate organization, and also due to fragile relationships in the work environment. Final Considerations: Suffering arises from the moment the worker is unable to adjust the task according to their needs and desires. Thus, it is suggested that hospital managers pay attention to how the organization of nursing work is established. In this way, it would be possible to provide conditions for the psychic structuring of professionals, as well as to offer opportunities for pleasurable experiences in the performance of their activities. This includes, among other factors, attention to the work rhythms imposed on teams and the performance demands of employees, so that it is still possible for them to adjust the task according to their needs and the work does not become inflexible or lose its meaning for those who perform it.