IMPACTS OF HUMANIZATION ON CARE FOR PATIENTS IN INTENSIVE CARE UNIT

Abstract

Introduction: The Intensive Care Unit (ICU) is an environment that requires the Unified Health System. Patients admitted to the ICU have unstable and serious health conditions and require highly complex care. The ICU has state-of-the-art technological equipment and professionals trained to provide intensive, holistic, and humanized care. Objective: to identify in the literature the impacts of humanization on the care of patients in the Intensive Care Unit. Methodology: this study is an integrative literature review, based on the following guiding question: what are the impacts of humanization on the care of patients in the Intensive Care Unit? The collection took place between February and March 20205, in the SciELO, BVS, and Lilacs databases, with the descriptors: humanization, care, and intensive care unit. Articles in Portuguese, free of charge, and published between 2019 and 2024 were included; texts in other languages, duplicates, or outside the scope were excluded. The data were organized into tables and analyzed according to the literature. Although the study did not go through an Ethics Committee, it complied with ethical and bioethical principles. Results: The humanization of nursing care, especially in Intensive Care Units (ICUs), is essential to ensure comprehensive and dignified care for patients. The National Humanization Policy (PNH) guides the transformation of institutional practices, promoting empathy, dialogue, and acceptance. In the ICU environment, characterized by high technology and coldness, it is essential to break with emotional distance, prioritizing care focused on the real needs of the individual. Effective communication, respect for subjectivity, family involvement, and the appreciation of practices such as music therapy are strategies that favor the well-being and recovery of patients. In this context, the nurse plays a central role, acting with sensitivity, ethics, and responsibility, promoting a more welcoming environment for both patients and their families. Conclusion: The humanization of care in ICUs is essential to offer more sensitive, ethical, and human-centered care. By valuing the dignity, listening, welcoming and individuality of the patient and their family members, the nurse contributes to a less traumatic and more welcoming experience, promoting comfort and quality in care. Integrating this approach into the routine of intensive care units is essential to recover the essence of care.