ABSTRACT
Aims: To identify, from the nurses' point-of-view, the psychosocial risks present in hospital emergency units and to analyze how these risks affect the nursing team in general. Method: This is a qualitative, exploratory and descriptive study. For data collection, we used semi-structured interviews based on a guide. The informational content was then analyzed. Twelve nurses from a public hospital located in the city of Rio de Janeiro participated in this study, in 2010. Results: The psychosocial risks identified derived from occupational stress, such as lack of human resources and equipment, ambiguity in paperwork and violence. Conclusion: The employer must take preventative action to reduce the psychosocial risks identified, to promote the physical and mental health of the nursing team and to motivate nurses to participate in the decision-making processes that can lead to improving existing working conditions.