Reconhecimento e valorização do trabalho e do trabalhador de enfermagem em Central de Material e Esterilização

Abstract

The present study has as object the perception of nursing professionals working at the Material and Sterilization Center (CME) regarding the recognition given to their work. For this purpose, the following objectives were outlined: to describe the perception of CME nursing workers about professional recognition; analyze the circumstances that facilitate and hinder the professional recognition of CME workers and discuss strategies to promote recognition of the professional appreciation of CME workers. The methodological design was a qualitative, descriptive and exploratory research. The study setting was the Material and Sterilization Center of an ambulatory medical unit belonging to a public university health complex located in the city of Rio de Janeiro. Participants were a total of twenty nursing professionals, including eight nurses and twelve nursing technicians who work or worked in this scenario. Data collection was performed using the semi- structured interview technique. Thematic Content Analysis was used for data processing. The results showed that the perception of professional recognition is given by the workers themselves in this scenario, but for other health professionals this recognition is incipient. According to the perception of the participants, this little recognition occurs due to some grounds such as: little approach to CME related content in undergraduate courses; due to historical issues that permeate this sector where workers from CME are professionals supposedly at the end of their careers, who are sick or who are not in tune with care; the physical distance from CME to other departments, making interpersonal relationships and the disclosure of the work activities in the department difficult. The situation that can facilitate the recognition of CME professionals are: nursing autonomy to develop their work process and the feeling of value that these workers confer on their work activities. Some strategies were listed to strengthen the recognition of work at the CME, such as: socialization and appreciation for the work organization on the work activities developed in this sector; more intensive approach to CME contents in undergraduate and technical courses in nursing; conducting training and updating courses about CME to awaken the interest of nursing professionals and academics about the relevance of the sector, among other strategies. It is concluded that the professional recognition of workers from CME is still incipient, despite the fact that nursing professionals in this scenario have a feeling of appreciation for their work activities