HUMANIZATION OF NURSING CARE FOR PATIENTS IN INTENSIVE CARE: CHALLENGES AND PRACTICES OF HUMANIZATION

Abstract

Intensive care is a highly complex environment where critically ill patients require continuous monitoring, advanced technologies, and rapid interventions, making nursing essential. However, this environment can generate intense emotional impact on patients and families, marked by fear, insecurity, and isolation. In this scenario, humanization emerges as an ethical necessity, seeking to integrate technical care and compassion, recognizing the patient as a whole being. Despite this, difficulties such as work overload, scarcity of resources, emotional exhaustion, and excessive focus on technique still hinder humanized practices. Thus, the importance of developing strategies that improve care, strengthen bonds, reduce suffering, and promote ethical, empathetic, and human-centered care is highlighted. This study analyzes challenges and practices of humanization in intensive care nursing, identifying difficulties faced by the team and describing strategies used to promote ethical, compassionate, and patient-centered care. This research is a narrative review conducted using the SciELO, LILACS, and BDENF databases, with DeCS descriptors, including studies from 2020-2025, selecting 15 articles for critical analysis on humanization in ICUs. Challenges include overload, communication difficulties, emotional exhaustion, and lack of training. Strategies include therapeutic communication, emotional support, family participation, environmental improvements, continuing education, and multidisciplinary work. Humanization in the ICU requires integrating technique and sensitivity, recognizing the patient as a biopsychosocial being. Even in the face of challenges, practices such as empathetic communication, family support, and respect for autonomy strengthen bonds, promote well-being, and make care more ethical and welcoming.