Holistic Nursing in the Digitalization Era: Preserving Human Touch and The Value of caring in health Services: A Systematic Review

Back ground: The rapid digital transformation of healthcare-marked by the integration of electronic health records (HER), telehealth, artificial intelligence (AI), and robotics system has significantly reshaped nursing practice. While these technologies enhance efficiency and accessibility, they pose challenges to maintaining the core values of holistic nursing human touch, emphaty and personalized care. Advances in digital technology have brought significant changes to nursing practice, both in terms of effectiveness and access to care. However, these changes raise concerns about the diminishing of the human touch and caring values, which are at the heart of holistic nursing. This systematic review aimed to explore how holistic nursing values are preserved in the digital era, focusing on strategies to maintain human connection and caring practices amidst technological advancement. This systematic review was conducted according to the PRISMA guidelines. The search was conducted in Scopus, Web of Science (WoS),ProQuest, and EBSCO databases from 2020 to 2025. The included articles were in English, full-text, and not review articles. Of the total 96 records screened, the last eighteen studies were included in the systematic review. The results showed that that while digital tools streamline clinical workflows, they often risk depersonalizing care. However, several studies emphasize the importance of digital humanization strategies such as empathetic communication in telehealth, personalized nursing protocols, and training programs that reinforce caring behaviors. The integration of digital literacy with emotional intelligence is critical to sustaining holistic care. Conclusion: Holistic nursing in the digital era requires a deliberate balance between tecnological efficiency and compassionate care. Preserving human touch and caring values is achievable through adaptive nursing education, ethical frameworks, and patient-centered digital practices. Future research should focus on developing evidence-based models that integrate technology without compromising the essence of nursing.