Background:

A trauma is a potential life threatening state which demands special resources and optimal care. Trauma doesn't just mean physical violence against the body, it can also put the patient in a psychological crisis. The trauma care in the emergency department is a short and intensive assessment between the patient and the emergency staff, where there is a risk that the patient may feel exposed and uncomfortable. For the nurse to be able to provide security and meet the patients' needs of well-being during the trauma care, the nurse has to try to understand the patients' needs and experiences. Aim: The aim of this study was to illuminate the patient's experiences during trauma care in the emergency department. Method: The study is implemented as a literature review where nine earlier studies were analyzed for the purpose to investigate knowledge which is available in this area. The results of the patient's experiences were divided in to themes and subthemes. Result: Three themes emerged from the result. Communication with subthemes I receive no information and I relieve information. Relatives' with the subtheme my relatives are present. I got taken care of with subtheme they touch me, they see me, the room is full of people and I am being examined. Conclusion: There were similarities and differences in the patients' experiences. Patients found it important to receive information and they felt secure when the trauma team were with them and showed them compassion. Experiences of family presence during trauma care showed differences between men and female patients. The experiences that have emerged in this study still show patterns that can give nurses more understanding and awareness for the patient experiences. It's hard to draw any reliable conclusions about the results. This is because of the lack of research in this area.