Open AccessNurses’ perceptions about the influence of the labor environment in the use of psychoactive substances
Author(s) -
Alessandro Rolim Scholze,
Júlia Trevisan Martins,
Maria José Quina Galdino,
Aline Aparecida Oliveira Moreira,
Vanessa Monique Luiz Costa,
Gabriela Trevisan
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
revista brasileira de medicina do trabalho
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.181
H-Index - 7
eISSN - 2447-0147
pISSN - 1679-4435
DOI - 10.5327/z1679443520200378
Subject(s) - autonomy , psychology , economic shortage , nursing , interpersonal communication , humanities , social psychology , medicine , political science , linguistics , philosophy , government (linguistics) , law
Background: The work environment of nurses is characterized by physical and mental hazards liable to cause exhaustion and lead them to take psychoactive substances as coping strategy. Objective: To investigate nurses’ perception of the work environment influence on psychoactive substance intake. Methods: Exploratory, descriptive and qualitative study with 14 nurses in two public hospitals. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and subjected to content analysis. Results: Staff and material shortages, submission, lack of autonomy, conflict in interpersonal relationships and power struggles were the main reasons for nurses to take psychoactive substances. Conclusion: Nurses are exposed to stressors in the workplace, including understaffing, power struggles, interpersonal conflict and lack of autonomy, which may lead them to take legal or illegal drugs.