Emergency care unit and the role of the nursing professional

Abstract

The Emergency Care Units (UPAs) stand out as unique environments in the health system, diverging considerably from other hospital units. This distinction stems from the complexity and constant modernity that characterized the UPAs, generating concern both in patients and their families as well as in the professionals who work in them. The objective of this study was to describe the perception of nursing professionals in Emergency Care Units (UPAs). It is a literature review with a qualitative approach, where scientific articles were searched in the PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Latin American and Caribbean Health Sciences Literature (LILACS) and Oliveira Scientific Electronic Library (SciELO) databases. The results show professionals who understand the purpose of these units, but misrepresent the service used by the population; The fact that, in addition to the lack of materials, there is also the standardization of procedures, human resources and training, complicates the work process. It was suggested that continuing education can be used as a form of group articulation in the search for quality work. However, nursing staff face significant challenges, such as physical exhaustion, patient overcrowding, disorganized environments, and staff shortages. Therefore, the study seeks to explore how nurses can reconcile these demands, improving the quality of care in UPAs in the face of a challenging scenario.