THE RELEVANCE OF PALLIATIVE CARE IN THE ICU PROVIDED BY NURSING STAFF

Abstract

Palliative care is fundamental in the care of critically ill patients, aiming to improve quality of life, alleviate suffering, and respect human dignity, regardless of the prospect of a cure or the progression of the disease. This study aims to analyze the importance of the nursing role in the implementation and operationalization of such care within the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) setting. It is an integrative literature review involving searches of scientific databases and regulatory documents, selecting works published between 2024 and 2026. The results demonstrate that nursing plays a central role in rigorous symptom control, effective communication, emotional support, and coordination with the multidisciplinary team and family members. However, challenges persist, such as insufficient professional training and institutional resistance to shifting the focus of care. It is concluded that integrating palliative care from the onset of hospitalization is essential for providing comprehensive, ethical, and humanized care, in accordance with current guidelines (COFEN, 2026; YOSHIZAKI et al., 2025).