Nightingale fundamentals, human care and health policies in the 21st century

Abstract

Objective: to establish relations between Nightingale fundamentals on the sustainability of human clinical care in dialogue with concepts underpinning two of Brazil’s current health policies. Content: nursing science is grounded on a holistic approach of the human being, with a view to comprehensive health, emphasizing subjects in their physical, mental, emotional and spiritual dimensions. This principle underpins integrative, humanized care practices in proposing comprehensive care centered on the human person and a therapeutic relationship designed to promote health and wellbeing. The main sources were Nightingale’s seminal work, nursing theories, and applied texts from Brazil’s National Policy of Humanization and Integrative, Complementary Healthcare Practices. Conclusion: The basic health care principles proposed by Nightingale, reflected in current health policies, contribute to expanding the autonomy of nursing personnel in the providing care based on concepts specific to nursing, in favor of Integrative, Human Nursing.