People spend most of their waking time in the workplace, where factors exist that affect physical and mental health. From a public health perspective, the work environment is therefore seen as an important determining factor for health. At the same time, the covid-19 pandemic has entailed societal changes that have changed the conditions for a good working environment.
The purpose of this study is to investigate how pediatric nurses at child care centers feel that the covid-19 pandemic has affected their work situation. To answer the purpose, a qualitative method with semi-structured interviews was used. The interviewees were selected via a goal- directed selection and consisted of four pediatric nurses. A content analysis was performed on collected data. The chosen theoretical framework includes the demand-control-support model which been used both as an explanatory model for the factors that affect occupational health and as a basis for the questions in the study's interview guide.
The results of the study highlight that the interviewees' varying experiences of the pandemic's impact on the work situation. Different experiences between the interviewees may be due to unequal conditions for a good work environment. The results also show that the covid-19 pandemic affected the work situation negatively and to some extent the work-related health in the form of increased stress.