Significado do trabalho dos profissionais de enfermagem no hospital geral

objective: analyze how nursing professionals express their feelings and reactions at work. methods: descriptive study of qualitative approach. the research was conducted from july to september 2008 in a public hospital located at the city of fortaleza, ceará (brazil). 22 nursing professional, 10 nurses and 12 technicians, participated in the study. the study was approved by the institution’s ethics research committee. data collection was made using semi-structured scripts in face-to-face interviews. results: answers were categorized as follows: meaning of work at the recovery room and post-operatory therapy unit; factors that affect the physical and psychical health of nursing professional, and factors that affect professional performance. discussion: day-to-day work at intensive care units was assessed as stressful but highly pleasant. physical suffering, as an expression of workload, became evident as corporal pains. the workplace factors affecting professional performance were the following: lack of materials, noise of equipment and ergonomic factors. conclusions: working, at intensive care units, raises a debate that is everything but new, however, it is a warning for the implementation of stress defensive strategies. the study allowed for creating spaces to embrace and listen to nursing professionals with a view to reduce the physical and psychical suffering at work.