Objective.

To describe the transformation of decisive moments that arise within the nurse-patient and family caregiver interaction to turn them into moments of care capable of favoring adaptation.

Methods.

In a high complexity hospital in the city of Bogotá (Colombia), a "nursing methodological research"-type study was conducted. It was developed in five stages: 1) identification of the institutional route of patients and their caregivers and, within it, the moments of encounter with nursing; 2) typical day of the nurse; 3) analysis of the nurse-patient and family caregiver encounters; 4) literature review on how to strengthen the nurse-patient and family caregiver relationship; and 5) proposal to transform decisive moments into moments of care.

Results.

Patients and their family caregivers usually experience six moments of encounter with nursing that include admission, assessment, satisfaction of basic needs, administration of medication, shift change, and discharge; all of them cross-cut by education and communication. Recognition of experiences during moments of encounter allowed transforming them into moments of nursing care.

Conclusion.

The transformation of decisive moments into moments of nursing care to favor adaptation of patients and their family caregivers is consequence of the nursing commitment and human nature expressed in every encounter of the care process.

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