Teaching work routine: challenges to nursing professors in contemporary times.

Objective: To describe the organization of nursing professors' work and analyze its limiting and facilitating aspects.

Method: A qualitative and descriptive study composed of professors from the federal public universities of Rio de Janeiro. Data collection took place through semi-structured interviews. The content analysis technique was used for data processing.

Results: Twenty-seven (27) professors participated. Facilitating elements of the teaching work were: work environment; autonomy and flexibility; liking what they do; use of technologies; and solidarity of the professional group; while hindering elements included: high work demand; intense work rhythm; scarcity of material and human resources; and academic competitiveness.

Conclusion: The configuration of the teaching work organization is complex and multifaceted, presenting high psycho-affective, cognitive and physical demands which enhance illness in these workers.