This study aims to discuss how stressful the work carried out in an Intensive Care Unit can be. When we talk about nurses, this stress takes on a greater dimension, as it is a profession that, as well as caring for the most seriously ill patients, deals with the pressure of coordinating a team of technicians and nursing assistants who also suffer from the high workload. On top of this, there is the ever-present inefficiency of material resources, and even personnel, to provide safe, quality care. Institutions must recognize the need for intervention so that this work becomes lighter and more rewarding, thus ensuring a better quality of life for nursing professionals.