Introduction

Communication and interpersonal relationships are the most essential elements of humanised care. The process of recovery is fostered by establishing relationships outside of physical care through the humanisation of actions in the care plan. However, in both nursing training and nursing practice, the inertia of a technical and neo-positivist approach persists and such aspects are therefore neglected.

Objective

To provide more specific knowledge on the importance of considering nursing care from a biopsychosocial perspective, with a humanised approach, placing special emphasis on communicative skills and interpersonal relationships as essential elements.

Methods

An integrative literature review, with a critical analysis of the literature consulted, including original articles and reviews published in Spanish, Portuguese, and English from 2013 to 2018. The SciELO, MEDLINE/PubMed, Web of Science, and CUIDEN databases were searched.

Results

The following four categories emerged from this analysis: 1) communicative and emotional skills as essential elements of humanised care; 2) the necessary emotional and communicative training in nursing education; 3) other factors contributing to humanised care; and 4) methodological changes and pedagogical resources for the communicative and emotional training of lecturers, students, and nursing professionals.

Conclusions

There is a need to develop, in a more pedagogical and profound way, training programmes in nursing on emotional skills and communication for humanised care.

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