title: Defense strategies in the nursing work environment of long-stay institutions for the elderly.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe the defense strategies used by nurses working in long-stay institutions for the elderly when faced with work environment distress.
  
  
  METHODS
  Descriptive, exploratory and qualitative research performed through interviews held with 27 nurses at long-stay institutions for the elderly between April and September 2013. Data analysis was performed through content analysis and the theory known as work psychodynamics.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The strategies used were: considering death as something natural, understanding death of those in critical condition as the end to a sufferable condition, understanding the patient's resistance as a symptom of disease and senility, limit the reach of work problems in their personal life, and restrict the affective involvement with patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The nursing professionals indicated the development of individual defense strategies - grouped as protection, adaptation and exploitation measures - in order to deal with situations that generate distress in their work environment.
authors.affiliation: Universidade Estadual de Maringá (UEM), Programa de Pós-Graduação em Enfermagem. Maringá, Paraná, Brasil.
authors.forename: Pâmela Patricia
authors.initials: PP
authors.lastname: Mariano
authors.affiliation: Universidade Estadual de Maringá (UEM), Programa de Pós-Graduação em Enfermagem, Departamento de Enfermagem. Maringá, Paraná, Brasil.
authors.forename: Lígia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Carreira
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D005851:Geriatric Nursing; D006707:Homes for the Aged; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009735:Nursing Homes; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control*; D016272:Occupational Health; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000517:prevention & control*; D017132:Workplace; D055815:Young Adult