Abstract

ASPIAZU, Eliana. Nursing working conditions in Argentina: between professional and precarious health care. Trab. soc. [online]. 2017, n.28, pp.11-35. ISSN 1514-6871.

Nursing is one of the "care occupations" within the complex framework of the health sector’s workforce. In this context, nursing has the distinctiveness of being the activity with the highest level of feminization in the health system (85% are women). It is also the occupation that carries the heaviest burden of direct care in its tasks. The issues affecting nurses in Argentina are diverse and have a negative impact both on their working conditions and on the quality of the care provided. Work overload, multi-employment, deficient infrastructure, lack of inputs and low salaries are part of the general situation the health sector. But nurses also present peculiarities that place them in a position of greater vulnerability. The deficit in the amount of nurses and their skill levels, together with the devaluation of their skills within health teams, add complexity to the employment outlook for this occupation. This article analyzes, based on available statistics and in-depth interviews, the changes that occurred in recent years in nursing, in terms of their role within health teams, the visualization of the occupation, and the meanings of care associated with it. Particularly, the article analyzes the impact of professionalization in the occupation, the socio-demographic changes associated with increased participation of men, the role of trade unions, as well as subjective and cultural aspects, such as perceptions about working conditions, motivations for choosing this profession, and its linkage with other health workers.

Keywords : Work conditions; Gender; Care occupations; Health Sector; Nurses.

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