Emotions and affections: challenges in attention in hospitals of the metropolitan area based on the experiences of their workers

Abstract

This article stems from the experiences of public health workers during the COVID-19 pandemic with the aim to analyze emotions particularly. We consider rationality and emotion to be structural characteristics of healthcare processes, fundamental dimensions for understanding the particularities and features of care processes in hospitals. We delve into the analysis of emotions with the hypothesis that they have a performative nature, implying a response that is subjective and physiological while also being social and relational at the same time. Methodologically, qualitative interviews were conducted with workers from public hospitals in the Buenos Aires metropolitan area during the pandemic. The main results highlight situations where fear, uncertainty, sadness, and distress emerge, alongside physical and mental exhaustion. These emotions drive the implementation of specific actions and strategies that support self-care, patient care, and collegial care within healthcare teams. In conclusion, we propose the performative nature of emotions and affections as constitutive dimensions of healthcare teams.