Nursing and the clinical evaluation of military divers in the fire departments of three northeastern brazilian states

Abstract

Introduction: Military diving activities impose risks to physical and mental health, requiring continuous clinical monitoring. The absence of specific protocols compromises the safety of military firefighters divers, especially in the Northeast region, where preventive nursing actions are scarcely evidenced. Objective:  To analyze the role of nursing in the clinical assessment of divers and how this evaluation is conducted in the Fire Departments of three states in the Northeast. Methodology:  A descriptive study with a qualitative and quantitative approach. Twenty-five military divers from States A, B, and C participated. Data collection was performed through a structured questionnaire and semi-structured interviews. Quantitative data were analyzed using simple descriptive statistics; qualitative data were analyzed by thematic content analysis. States and participants were not identified. Results:  Most participants had advanced technical training and less than 10 years of experience. In 87.0% of cases, there was no periodic clinical follow-up; 100% reported the absence of institutional protocols for pre- and post-dive assessments; only 4.3% regularly underwent laboratory tests. Nursing care was limited to emergencies. There was dissatisfaction with health assistance (95.7%) and lack of knowledge about specific regulations (100%). Discussion:  Institutional weaknesses and the absence of nursing policies in clinical evaluation were evident, representing an occupational risk. Conclusion: The study revealed an extreme deficiency in health care for military divers, highlighted the need for effective and qualified nursing practice, and emphasized the urgency of developing clinical protocols and preventive strategies to ensure safe, humane, and effective care.