OBJECTIVE: To analyze the challenges for the management of care in a hospital emergency department, based on the perspective of nurses. METHODS: A qualitative, descriptive and exploratory study, conducted from June to September 2009, through semi-structured interviews with 20 nurses in the Emergency Department of a university hospital in southern region of Brazil. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis. RESULTS: The main challenges of nursing in managing care in emergency units were: management of overcrowding, maintaining quality of care, and utilization of leadership as a management tool. The suggestions mentioned to overcome these were: reorganization of the health system to focus on emergencies, changes in the flow of patient care, and implementation of training on nursing management. CONCLUSION: Such challenges and strategies represented a boost to the development of new practices through collaborative and coordinated work with the emergency care network.
Nursing administration research; Nursing service, hospital; Nursing care; Management; Emergency nursing