From remote to face-to-face work: meanings expressed by nurses in a Peruvian public hospital

Abstract

Introduction: When considering the return to the office, organizations face resistance from employees accustomed to the comfort of teleworking, difficulties in reintegrating the organizational culture, and diverse expectations that can generate tensions. Objective: To describe and analyze the meanings about remote work to in-person work attributed by nurses from a Peruvian public hospital. Method: The type of research was qualitative with a descriptive approach. The population consisted of nurses from the city of Chiclayo in Peru, who during the pandemic carried out their work through remote work and then returned to work in person. The sample was established with 12 nurses, according to the saturation and redundancy technique. In addition, a semi-structured interview guide validated by expert judgment was used and ethical principles and scientific rigor were considered. Likewise, thematic content analysis was used for data processing. Main results: They were grouped into 3 categories: a) Concerns about the safety of face-to-face work: Fear of contagion and discomfort due to the use of biosecurity measures and vaccination, b) Satisfaction with returning to face-to-face work due to direct interaction with patients and colleagues, c) Reintegration and adaptation upon returning to face-to-face work. General conclusion: The return to face-to-face work, although considered a challenging situation, facilitated direct interaction with patients and colleagues, essential for their well-being and the quality of care, highlighting the need for an environment that prioritizes these emotional connections.