Background: For nurses in hospitals, the presence of close relatives in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) can be an uncertain experience. In 2015, 91 000 deaths occurred in Sweden, many of them in hospitals.

Aim: This study aimed to explain nurses' experiences of relatives' presence at cardiopulmonary resuscitation in hospitals.

Method: A literature review based on six qualitative and five quantitative articles was performed.

Result: Two main themes, to invite and to not invite, constituted the result with four subthemes. The main theme to invite had two subthemes, good occupational experience and self-confidence. The main theme to not invite comprised likewise two subthemes, insecurity about absent guidelines and worry about relatives' reaction.

Conclusion: A majority of the nurses believed that relatives should be present at CPR. Nurses believed that relatives easier could accept their relatives' death if they were able to touch their relative, share the last moments in life and say goodbye. Improvement of guidelines and development work is needed to maintain nurses' positive view of relatives' presence at CPR in hospital settings. To strengthen this, national guidelines are also necessary to assist local guidelines.