Brazilian nurses’ perception of professional and personal stress during the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract Objective to describe Brazilian nurses’ perspectives on the sources of work-related and personal stress sources during the COVID-19 pandemic. Method a qualitative, descriptive study conducted in a virtual environment with 308 Brazilian nurses between April 2022 and September 2023. The Qualtrics XM Survey software was used for data collection, and content analysis was conducted using the IRaMuTeQ software. Results the main causes of work-related stress were fear of infection, work overload, changes in the work environment and psychological impact. On a personal level, fear of death, social isolation, anxiety, worries about family members’ health and economic difficulties were the main stressors. The vaccine brought relief and hope, but emotional challenges and the need for psychological recovery remained. Final considerations and implications for practice Brazilian nurses faced numerous professional and personal stressors. Understanding this is critical to developing support and coping strategies during health crises. Implications for practice include promoting mental health, improving working conditions, strengthening social and institutional support and building resilience.