HUMANIZATION AND A FAMILY-CENTERED APPROACH IN THE ORGAN DONATION PROCESS: THE ROLE OF NURSING

Abstract

This study aimed to discuss the role of nursing in the humanization of care and in the family approach during the organ donation process. This is an integrative literature review conducted in national and international databases, including SciELO, LILACS and PubMed, using the descriptors nursing, organ donation, transplantation, humanization and communication. Articles published between 2015 and 2025, available in full in Portuguese, English and Spanish, were included. After applying the inclusion and exclusion criteria, nine studies were selected for analysis. The results show that humanized care, clear communication and professional training are essential for an appropriate family approach in the context of organ donation. Nurses play a central role in supporting families, clarifying brain death diagnosis and assisting in decision-making. It is concluded that nursing practice combined with empathetic communication and continuing education significantly contributes to the effectiveness of the organ donation process and to more humanized healthcare practices.