Abstract
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Pensar Enfermagem / v.28 n.sup / October 2024
DOI: 10.71861/pensarenf.v28iSup.372
Introduction
The emotional management processes of nurses working in international humanitarian aid
projects, particularly in conflict and/or catastrophe contexts, are critical due to the
significant emotional challenges they face. These professionals encounter diverse emotions
and often must make decisions in adverse, culturally diverse, and resource-scarce
environments. Watson1 highlights that caregivers who neglect self-care cannot provide the
necessary care for their patients or to offer serenity, affection, safety, and understanding.
Therefore, understanding the emotional management strategies that nurses employ in these
demanding contexts is essential.
Objective
This study aims to describe the major categories that emerged from the preliminary findings
of a research conducted as part of a PhD in Nursing to understand the nurses’ emotional
management processes when providing care in the context of international humanitarian
aid, specifically in conflict or catastrophe scenarios.
Methods
This study follows a naturalistic paradigm using the Grounded Theory method with an
inductive approach. Content analysis was conducted on eleven written narratives and two
focus group reports from nurses with experience in these contexts.
Results
The findings revealed three phases in the emotional management of nurses providing care
in this context. Consequently, three main categories were defined. The first category,
Challenging Emotional Situation, refers to the period before the mission. The second, Turbulent
Emotional Situation, covers the mission itself, and the third, Search for Self-Meaning, pertains to
the post-mission phase.
Conclusion
The ongoing results of this study suggest that appropriate emotional management strategies
not only improve nurses’ well-being but also enhance their ability to provide empathetically
and competent care in adverse conditions. A deeper understanding of these processes will
enable more effective preparation through targeted training. This deeper knowledge, driven
by extensive research, will improve nurses' readiness for missions, equipping them to
handle challenging contexts and situations more effectively.
Keywords
Emotions; Nursing; Humanitarian Aid; Catastrophe; Conflict.
References
1. Watson, J. (2018). Unitary caring science: the philosophy and praxis of nursing. University
Press of Colorado.
2. Diogo P, Sousa M, Rodrigues J, Silva T, Santos M. Emotional labor of nurses in the front
line against the COVID-19 pandemic. Rev Bras Enferm [Internet]. 2021 Apr 14 [cited 2024
maio 20];74Suppl 1(Suppl 1):e20200660. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1590/0034-
7167-2020-0660
3. Corbin, J., & Strauss, A. (2015). Basics of qualitative research. Techniques and procedures
for developing Grounded Theory. SAGE.
Nurses’ Emotional Management in Conflict and
Catastrophe’s Humanitarian Aid Projects
Tânia, Almeida1
http://orcid.org/0000-0001-6611-2708
Paula, Diogo2
http://orcid.org/0000-0003-4828-3452
Luísa Barros3
http://orcid.org/0000-0002-5075-0104
1 Departamento Criança e Jovem, Escola Superior de
Enfermagem de Lisboa (ESEL), Lisboa; Centro de
Investigação, Inovação e Desenvolvimento em
Enfermagem de Lisboa (CIDNUR), Lisboa, Portugal.
2 Departamento Criança e Jovem, Escola Superior de
Enfermagem de Lisboa (ESEL), Lisboa; Centro de
Investigação, Inovação e Desenvolvimento em
Enfermagem de Lisboa (CIDNUR), Lisboa, Portugal.
3 Universidade de Psicologia de Lisboa, Lisboa,
Portugal.
Corresponding author:
Tânia Almeida
E-mail: tania-almeida@esel.pt
