Background: Addiction is a growing health problem worldwide. For example, approximately 835000 people in Sweden struggle with substance abuse. People with addiction problems are needed care. Nurses often get insecure when it comes to caring for patients with substance abuse disorder.

Aim: to describe nurses experience of caring patients with substance abuse problem.

Method: A literature review based on qualitative and quantitative studies was applied.

Results: Nurses' experiences of caring patients with addiction problems resulted in two themes with five subthemes. The first theme was to have a professional approach, with subthemes knowledge and competence needs and the importance of collegial tutorship. The second theme was to work for a secure care with subthemes create participation, adjust the care and the feeling of fear and loneliness.

Conclusion: All nurses need to be given more education to be able to be caring for patients with addiction in the best way, and always use a patient cantered care. When nurses were given the opportunity to educate themselves in this area, they felt more secure and developed more knowledge.