NURSING CARE FOR PREMATURE NEWBORNS IN THE NEONATAL ICU

Abstract

Prematurity is a significant condition of neonatal vulnerability, requiring intensive and specialized care, especially in the context of the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. In this scenario, nursing care plays a fundamental role in maintaining clinical stability, preventing complications, and promoting the recovery of the premature newborn. The general objective of this study is to analyze the nursing care provided to premature newborns in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. This is a narrative literature review, conducted in the SciELO, PubMed, and Virtual Health Library databases, considering publications from 2020 to 2026, in Portuguese and English. Descriptors related to the theme were used, combined using Boolean operators, and studies addressing nursing care for premature newborns in an intensive care setting were selected. The results were organized into thematic categories, encompassing the implications of prematurity, nursing care in the neonatal ICU, and the role of nursing in preventing complications. It was found that nursing care is essential for clinical monitoring, implementation of systematized care, promotion of humanization, and reduction of complications, directly contributing to the improvement of neonatal outcomes. It is concluded that qualified, systematized, and humanized nursing care is crucial for the clinical stability and recovery of premature newborns, highlighting the need to strengthen care practices and working conditions in the neonatal context.