This study aimed to understand the nurses' beliefs about humanized care in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU). Data collection was accomplished through open interviews with five nurses, which were then taped and fully transcribed. The content analyzed was realized in the framework of symbolic interactionism as a theoretical reference base, and used the Grounded Theory methodology. This study allowed for the understanding that the nurse, although she has difficulties in rendering humanized assistance, seems to be giving up the belief that the PICU is a technicist unit and starts looking for strategies to deliver a more humanized assistance.
pediatric intensive care units; family nursing; professional-family relations