Absenteísmo na enfermagem: principais causas de afastamento médico e seus impactos na dinâmica do trabalho hospitalar

Vollständiger Abstract

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Absenteeism among nursing professionals is an important indicator related to occupational health and the organization of hospital services, since sickness absence may reflect working conditions characterized by high physical, emotional, and organizational demands. This study aims to analyze the main causes of medical leave among nursing professionals and their impacts on hospital work dynamics, considering repercussions on staffing, workload among remaining workers, continuity of care, and health service management. This is a narrative literature review with a qualitative and descriptive-exploratory approach, based on national and international scientific studies and documents related to occupational health and nursing. The findings demonstrate that musculoskeletal and connective tissue diseases, mental and behavioral disorders, respiratory and infectious diseases, and other work-related health conditions are among the important causes of sickness absenteeism in nursing. Long working hours, night shifts, multiple employment relationships, care overload, ergonomic inadequacies, biological risks, workplace violence, psychological distress, and inadequate staffing may contribute to illness and subsequent absence from work. A circular dynamic is also observed in which absence reduces the available workforce, increases the workload of professionals who remain at work, and may contribute to further episodes of exhaustion and illness. It is concluded that absenteeism in nursing should not be interpreted exclusively as an administrative indicator or productivity problem, but as a potential marker of working conditions and occupational health. Addressing this phenomenon requires systematic surveillance of sickness absence, adequate staffing, ergonomic interventions, prevention of occupational risks, protection of mental health, and permanent institutional policies aimed at promoting safer and healthier hospital work environments.