Background: Each year more than 800,000 patients require hospital treatment, and the healthcare environment is important for patients' experience of security and recovery processes. To meet the needs of care for the patients, the healthcare environment needs to be designed after the patients' needs to strengthen the participation and promote the patient's sense of dignity.

Aim: The purpose of this study was to illuminate the patients' experiences of being cared for in a hospital.

Method: A literature study based on analysis of qualitative studies according to Friberg's five step model.

Results: Three main categories were identified in the results. The importance of the healthcare environment category clarifies the importance of the physical environment to patients' sense of well-being. The importance of caring category illuminate patients experiences of care and recognizes the inadequacy in integrity and dignity. The importance of interaction and community, emphasize the relationship between patient and nurse, and patients' feelings of affinity to other patients.

Conclusion: Patients' experiences of hospital care vary depending on how supportive the environment in the care unit is. Patients experienced both difficulties and relief whilst being cared for in single or multibed rooms. In shared rooms, patients experienced difficulties with lack of integrity and negative impact from other patients' state of health. However, patients experienced reduced loneliness and solidarity with fellow patients. By comparison, being cared for in single rooms increased feelings of loneliness and isolation, which could worsen patients experience of well-being.