Pandemins flexibla slavar : En kvalitativ studie av vårdpersonalens upplevelse av en hög arbetsbelastning under en pandemi

Sammanfattning: Abstract Title: “ Pandemic’s flexible slaves” Author: Angelica Olsson & Lelyan George With this study, we have been aiming to describe and analyze how work under heavy load at a hospital during the Covid-19 pandemic, affects the healthcare staff´s working conditions and psychosocial work environment. Eight semi-structured interviews were performed with individuals working as a nurse. This way the respondent’s own experiences and stories were explored. The analysis was primarily done through Anthony Giddens theories, trust and ontological security and risk and ontological safety, to understand thoroughly medical staff’s experience, as well to clarify it and enlighten the public of medical staff’s current situation. The results showed that there were many factors that affect the care workers' perceived working conditions and what consequences the high workload during a pandemic contributed to. Furthermore, the study manifested that group reinforcements, social interaction and harmony had a significant role. In conjunction, the result showed that sudden changes in the working environment, lack of disciplined routines, inexperience when it came to take action or remediation and absence of support from the working group resulted in insecurity during working hours. Additionally, to the above claim the study indicated also how inadequate information and follow-up from the highest chiefs could result in insecurity in the course of work. Key words: Covid-19, Psychosocial work environment, Healthcare professionals, security