NEONATAL PAIN: NURSING PRACTICE IN NONVERBAL COMMUNICATION WITH NEWBORNS IN THE NEONATAL INTENSIVE CARE UNIT - AN INTEGRATIVE REVIEW

Abstract

This study aimed to highlight the perception and management of neonatal pain by nursing staff, emphasizing the nonverbal communication of newborns admitted to Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICUs). This is an integrative literature review conducted between March and September 2026, using the SciELO, PubMed/MEDLINE, LILACS, and BDENF databases, as well as complementary sources. A total of 35 original articles published between 2021 and 2026, in Portuguese and English, were included. The results showed that pain is identified through behavioral and physiological signs, such as crying, facial changes, body movements, heart rate, and oxygen saturation. Non-pharmacological measures, including breastfeeding, non-nutritive sucking, facilitated tucking, and skin-to-skin contact, were highlighted, along with the NIPS, PIPP-R, NFCS, and BIIP scales. Barriers such as work overload and insufficient professional training were also identified. It is concluded that systematic pain assessment, combined with qualified nursing care and evidence-based interventions, promotes safe and humanized neonatal care.