Background: Overcrowding and long waiting times are common in emergency departments. Organizational problems, staff- and hospital bed shortages leads to long waiting times. A consequence of the long waiting time is that patients' leave without being seen.

Aim: The aim of this study was to understand patient's experiences of waiting at the emergency department.

Method: This is a literature study based on qualitative articles. Ten qualitative articles were included in this study.

Results: The findings in this study revealed three main themes; Being a patient, Meeting with healthcare and The environment at the emergency department. The patients' experience feelings of lack of control, abandonment, frustration and develop different strategies to deal with the waiting time. Patients' describe how they feel ignored and lacking information about waiting times and treatment. The emergency department environment affects the patient's experience during the waiting period.

Conclusion: Improvement measures are needed to improve the environment at the Emergency department to make waiting time easier. The waiting time experience is improved when nurses are present and available to provide support.