Humanizing health care: what do nursing students think?

• Main Authors: Dyane Rocha, Rachel de Carvalho
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Instituto Israelita de Ensino e Pesquisa Albert Einstein 2007-12-01
• Series: Einstein (São Paulo)
• Subjects: Humanizing hospital care; Nursing students; Nursing education; Caring for patients; National health care program
• Online Access: http://www.einstein.br/revista/arquivos/PDF/600-Einstein_P1_Vol5N4_Miolo_Pag.315%20a%20320.pdf

Objective: To determine the degree of knowledge undergraduatenursing students have concerning humanizing hospital care. Methods:This was a descriptive level 1 survey with quantitative data analysis.The sample comprised 36 students enrolled in the 8th semester of theundergraduate nursing course. Data was collected at the NursingSchool of Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein by means of a questionnairewith identification data and specific questions concerning humanization.Results: Students defined humanization of hospital care as treatingclients with respect and addressing their needs; most students (22%or 61.1%) are familiar with the National Program to Humanize HospitalCare (PNHAH); the course subjects that more thoroughly covered thehumanization issue were Intensive Care, Oncology, and Psychiatry;the major advantages in implementing humanized hospital care wereimprovement in the nurse/client relationship, quality of servicesrendered, client satisfaction; major difficulties to implement humanizedhospital care were lack of knowledge by professionals concerning thehumanization of hospital care and lack of compliance in implementingactions; primary actions to implement humanization of hospital careare to give individualized and holistic care. Conclusion: The studentsdefined humanization; most of them are familiar with the PNHAH; theycited the third-year syllabus subjects as those that best cover the topicof humanization; and they emphasized the advantages and difficultiesof these practices and suggested actions to implement humanizationof medical assistance at a hospital level.