WORKLOADS OF EXTERNAL MATERIALITY IN THE NURSING TEAM OF A TEACHING HOSPITAL IN PARANÁ, BRAZIL

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to analyze workloads of external materiality present in the work processes of the nursing staff of a teaching hospital. Historical materialism was the theoretical framework, whose analysis was based on content analysis proposed by Bardin. Semi-structured interviews were held with the participation of seven nurses, who were nursing service managers in the institution. The Ethnograph version 5.0. software was used for analysis. Findings evidenced that the biological loads were the most relevant ones, due to the exposure and suffering they provoke; that the potential of the mechanical loads has increased due to the workers' aging; that chemical and physical loads are hardly taken into account because of the team's lack of knowledge. Actions to increase the number of staff members and greater follow-up of these workers by the Occupational Health Sector are fundamental prevention measures to improve this population's health and work conditions.