Background: The elderly population is increasing and many of these will need palliative care in their end of life. Many of these have a wish to spend their last time in life in their own home. This leads to high demand on healthcare, and it requires a good competence by nurses in municipal home health care to be able to provide good palliative home care.

Aim: The aim of this study was to illuminate nurses´ experiences of caring for the palliative patient in their own home.

Method: A literature-based study in which qualitive articles were analyzed. Systematic searches were performed in the databases Cinahl and PubMed. Articles about nurses´ experiences of caring for the palliative patient were included. The study was based on 10 articles.

Results: The results showed that the nurses experience that communication and collaboration with the doctor is crucial to provide good palliative care. An early established relationship with the patient and his/hers relatives is strived for in order to be able to provide the care that the patient wishes for and desires. Nurses in palliative home care need adequate knowledge and competence to help the patient, not only with the physical suffering but also with existential and mental suffering.

Conclusion: Nurses in palliative home care needs more education and support to be able to fully care for the palliative patient. Nurses also need to maintain a good collaboration with all people that are involved in the patient’s care, both professionals and relatives.