Strategies to face the Covid-19 pandemic in an Emergency Care Unit (UPA): an experience report of nursing professionals in the Brazilian Unified Health System (SUS)

Abstract

Introduction: With the advent of the global epidemic of Covid-19, there was a need for a rapid reorganization of the flows, routines and structure of health services to contain the spread of the disease, provide protection to the population and zeal for the professional exercise of health workers. . At least half of these professionals belong to nursing, a profession that has a very important role in the global agenda for access, universal coverage and quality of health care in the face of epidemiological changes experienced. Objective: To report the experience of nursing professionals facing the restructuring of work processes, resulting from the pandemic, in an Emergency Care Unit in the city of Curitiba-PR. Method: This is an experience report from the experience of a nursing team working in the pre-hospital environment and the basis of official documents from the Ministry of Health, collected from February to April 2021, during the pandemic period. Results: It was observed in the health equipment in question the reorganization of the service through operational flows, human and structural resources, according to official guidelines protocols, and the increase in the potential of care, without the local collapse and without the lack of supplies basic. However, a restricted physical structure can be evidenced in the unit, the offer of low quality PPE to professionals and the underutilization of the nursing workforce. Conclusion: The lack of recognition of nursing was something remarkable for the class during the pandemic in the institution studied, especially due to the lack of financial incentives and the underutilization of their tasks. It is recommended that municipal managers invest in policies to value the mentioned profession.