Ribeiro, OlgaTrindade, Letícia de LimaPinto Novo, André Filipe Morais Pintoda Rocha, Carla Gomes daSousa, Clemente NevesCabral Teles, Paulo João Figueiredo CabralReis, Ana Catarina Rodrigues da SilvaPerondi, Alessandro RodriguesAndrigue, Karen Cristina KadesPereira, Soraia Cristina de AbreuLeite, Paula Cristina da SilvaVentura-Silva, João Miguel Almeida2022-10-252022-10-252022Ribeiro, O.M.P.L., de Lima Trindade, L., Novo, A.F.M.P., da Rocha, C.G., Sousa, C.N., Teles, P.J.F.C., da Silva Reis, A.C.R., Perondi, A.R., Andrigue, K.C.K., de Abreu Pereira, S.C., da Silva Leite, P.C., Ventura-Silva, J.M.A. (2022). The COVID-19 Pandemic and Professional Nursing Practice in the Context of Hospitals. Healthcare (Switzerland).10(2).2227-9032http://hdl.handle.net/10400.26/42047The COVID-19 pandemic has imposed challenges to health systems and institutions, which had to quickly create conditions to meet the growing health needs of the population. Thus, this study aimed to assess the impact of COVID-19 on professional nursing practice environments and to identify the variables that affected their quality. Quantitative, observational study, conducted in 16 Portuguese hospitals, with 1575 nurses. Data were collected using a questionnaire and participants responded to two different moments in time: the pre-pandemic period and after the fourth critical period of COVID-19. The pandemic had a positive impact on the Structure and Outcome components, and a negative trend in the Process component. The variables associated with the qualification of the components and their dimensions were predominantly: work context, the exercise of functions in areas of assistance to COVID-19 patients, length of professional experience and length of experience in the service. The investment in professional practice environments impacted the improvement of organizational factors, supporting the development of nurses’ work towards the quality of care. However, it is necessary to invest in nurses’ participation, involvement and professional qualifications, which are aspects strongly dependent on the institutions’ management strategiesengCoronavirus infectionPandemicjournal article10.3390/healthcare10020326