Perception of the nursing team about work in the Psychosocial Care Centers for Alcohol and Other Drugs (CAPSad)

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To identify the perception of the nursing team about work in the Psychosocial Care Centers for Alcohol and Other Drugs (CAPSad). METHOD: This is a descriptive exploratory study with a qualitative approach. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with four nursing technicians and two nurses who worked at two CAPSad in the city of Salvador. The analysis of the collected data was performed using the Bardin content analysis technique. RESULTS: Four main categories were defined: Permanent Education in Mental Health at CAPSad; Motivation at work with Mental Health; Specificities of the alcohol and other drugs field and Challenges and facilities in the alcohol and other drugs field. The workers have a dichotomous work practice, consistent with the Brazilian Psychiatric Reform (RPB) and Harm Reduction (RD), but also with activities centered on the hegemonic biomedical model. They are motivated to work for the autonomy of nursing actions in this context, however, challenges such as a fragmented care network and exposure to violence, are frequent. FINAL CONSIDERATIONS: The CAPSad make it possible for nursing workers to exercise their practices in an expanded way, however, they have found difficulties to occupy this space, with a tendency to reproduce the scenario of their clinical and hospital practices.