ABSTRACT
Objective: to describe adversities experienced by nursing professionals in intensive care units in times of COVID-19. Method: descriptive and exploratory research, with a qualitative approach, involving 28 nursing professionals from intensive care units in the state of Rio de Janeiro in April 2020. Data processed in the Interface de R pour Analyses Multidimensionnelles de Textes et de Questionnaires. Results: by the Descending Hierarchical Classification, three classes were obtained: fear of the unknown and lack of personal protective equipment and support to nursing professionals;lack of flows, protocols, information, materials and training of teams to promote safe assistance;and stress in caring for patients with positive COVID-19, risk of contamination and death and constant need for guidance on preventive measures. Final considerations: such adversities influenced the care practice and psychoemotional health of nursing professionals, and public policies and management and care strategies were needed to minimize them. © 2022 Universidade Federal da Bahia. All rights reserved.