HUMANIZATION OF NURSING CARE FOR TERMINALLY ILL CHILDREN: PRACTICES AND CHALLENGES

Abstract

Infant terminality often represents a stigma for health professionals, especially nurses, or may result in failures to provide care during this critical moment. In this way, it is crucial to humanize the care of children in a terminal state. The objective of this study is to discuss the importance of humanization in caring for children in a terminal state, as well as practices and challenges. It was used as an integrative literature review methodology and was prepared through a survey of scientific articles in the databases: Google Scholar, Scientific Electronic Library Online (SCIELO), without temporary limits, which were researched with the following descriptors: terminal state, hospitalized child, oncological illness, palliative care, humanized care. Our results observe a holistic approach in the context of childhood terminality that is fundamental and requires factors that vary beyond the professional qualification. Under this perspective, the nurses who work in this space find independent limitations for the execution of a more humanized approach. The conclusion was that nurses responsible for caring for terminally ill children face various challenges that limit humanized care, such as the need to deal with their own emotional dilemmas, while offering psychosocial support that goes beyond the biological field.