Adaptation of the Operating Room Nursing Staff to New Protocols During the Covid-19 Pandemic

Abstract

Introduction: The Covid-19 pandemic, declared by the WHO in March 2020, worsened global health, resulting in thousands of deaths and a hospital crisis due to the rapid spread of the virus. In the surgical context, operating rooms were identified as high-risk locations, requiring new biosafety protocols. The overload on the nursing team affected hospital care, highlighting the urgent need to understand the repercussions on surgical dynamics.   Objective: to analyze the adaptation process of the surgical center's nursing team through the implementation of new safety protocols during the COVID-19 pandemic in a reference hospital in Belém.  Methodology: This is a qualitative study with an exploratory approach, involving nursing staff at the Surgical Center of the Fundação Hospital de Clínicas Gaspar Vianna (FHCGV), which is a reference hospital for psychiatry, nephrology, and cardiology in the state of Pará. Data were collected via individual interviews, with the assistance of a voice recorder or manual responses to the questionnaire proposed in the study. Subsequently, the data was subjected to analysis in accordance with the methodology proposed by Laurence Bardin. Results and Discussion: The findings demonstrated a series of adaptations that the nursing team had implemented in order to comply with the recently introduced biosafety protocols. The primary alterations observed include: The alteration in work routine, the difficulties encountered by the operating room nursing team, and the assistance provided for the implementation of the new protocols. The data obtained indicates that the nursing team's adaptation was effective in ensuring the continuity of surgical procedures in a safe and secure manner throughout the course of the pandemic. Furthermore, the nursing team demonstrated remarkable innovation in the provision of care for patients with positive covid-19 test results, as evidenced by their exemplary record-keeping practices. However, the adaptation process also revealed significant challenges, such as an increased workload, which necessitated the implementation of psychological support and well-being measures for professionals.   Conclusion: the study highlights the adaptability of the surgical center's nursing team in the face of an unprecedented crisis. The lessons learned and the strategies implemented will serve as a reference for future health emergency situations