Objectives:

To interpret humanized care in adult patients in intensive care units through bibliographic review.

Method:

Exploratory bibliographic review supported by the hermeneutic method. A search was conducted in Scielo, Science Direct, Elsevier, ProQuest and Google Scholar databases with keywords: humanization, humanized care, nursing care. Inclusion criteria were used: updated sources, Spanish and English languages, direct relationship to the topic and scientific quality.

Results:

Nineteen bibliographic sources were analyzed from an initial total of 156. Humanized care was identified as a fundamental element in ICU, characterized by therapeutic communication, nurse-patient relationship based on empathy and respect, elimination of stressors, emotional support and family participation. Studies showed that 80% of patients perceive humanized treatment, although organizational barriers exist such as high workload, process technification and lack of communication skills.