The public health emergency caused by the COVID-19 pandemic has brought numerous challenges and changes to the work of the nursing team, which operates on the front lines of caring. This research was conducted in a critical care unit for COVID-19 patients. This new reality has emerged as a risk factor for the safety of healthcare professionals and patients. In this sense, the need for continuous assessment of the practices adopted for the safe maintenance of the CAVD has arisen in order to maintain excellence in best practices, reduce incidents, and support the provision of new training during the pandemic. Thus, the following research problem was formulated: Are best practices for CAVD maintenance present in the nursing team's routine during the COVID-19 pandemic?
Objectives: to assess adherence to good practices for central venous catheter maintenance by the nursing team during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Methods: observational, cross-sectional, quantitative research with non-participant observation. Data collection was guided by an instrument developed for this study, consisting of five dimensions: Hand hygiene; Personal protective equipment; Scrub the hub; Wound care; Records. Results: a total of 700 observations were carried out, which resulted, in general, in 402 (57.4%) procedures for adherence to good practices. Hand hygiene (8%) and Performing the dressings (10%) were the dimensions with the lowest adherence.
Conclusions: good practices for central venous catheter maintenance were partially present in the routine of the nursing team during the COVID-19 pandemic. In critical moments, intensifying the qualification of the teams for a better adaptation to the new work processes is a strategy to sustain the patient safety culture. As it was developed while the institution was reorganizing to meet the demand of patients affected by COVID-19, the research supported nursing managers in the institution's ICUs in making decisions to maintain the patient safety culture during profound changes in work processes.