It concerns a qualitative research which aims to understand what actions developed by the workers provide them with health or strain; and to identify the possibilities of expressing the subjectivity at daily work. Data were collected in Intensive Care Unities of two hospitals in the Brazilian Southern region, applying observation and semi-structured interviews with a nursing staff. The main situations triggering strain were: centralized model of management; lack of material, equipment and staff; proximity with death and conflicts at work. As for providing health: job satisfaction and recognition by the work done; improving of patient outcome and possibility of working with autonomy. We can conclude that participation of the worker in the working process; good work conditions; setting up healthy relationships at work can be considered as essential to provide health for the workers on a daily basis.
Occupational health; Nursing; Institutional organization; Work