NURSING PRACTICES IN THE COMPREHENSIVE CARE OF CHILDREN WITH CONGENITAL HEART DISEASE AND THEIR FAMILIES: A LITERATURE REVIEW

Abstract

Congenital heart diseases represent structural cardiac alterations that significantly impact the lives of children and their families, requiring continuous and comprehensive care, in which nursing plays a fundamental role in clinical, emotional, and social assistance. This study aimed to examine nursing practices focused on the comprehensive care of children with congenital heart disease and their families. This is a literature review, of a qualitative and descriptive nature, carried out in the SciELO, PubMed, and BVS databases, with articles published between 2021 and 2025, in Portuguese, English, and Spanish. Descriptors combined with Boolean operators were used, applying inclusion and exclusion criteria, resulting in the final analysis of 15 studies. The findings demonstrate that nursing care, associated with family and multidisciplinary support, contributes to improved clinical prognosis, reduced caregiver anxiety, and strengthened family bonds, highlighting the importance of early diagnosis, continuous monitoring, health education, and empathetic communication as essential strategies. It is evident that nursing practices within the framework of comprehensive care promote clinical, emotional, and social improvements, leading to a better quality of life for children with heart disease and their families.