This study focuses the meanings and transformations of healthcare humanization along the time through a literature review. The analysis is pointed out by a reading hipothesis of Revista Brasileira de Enfermagem (REBEn) and inspired by the ideas of Michel Focault, specially his discourse concept. It was identified as discourse apperaring condition: the nursing professional characteristics, the association of humanization meaning to scientific knowledge and the re-affirmation of its traditional meaning related to the new health policies. As delimiting instance of discourse it is presented: nursing, government, and technology. It is also presented the sense attributed to humanization since 1970 decade until the present time.
Nursing care; Delivery of health care; Nursing