Background 
The number of patients visiting the emergency departments have increased in recent years. As the emergency departments being central in the hospital organisation, it is important that the care provided is of good quality. The emergency departments are often characterized by short and rapid encounters. It is the nurses’ responsibility to make sure that the patients receive the care needed.Aim 
The aim was to describe patients' experiences in an acute care at the emergency department.Method 
The method used was a qualitative literature study based on Friberg’s (2006) model. Eight qualitative articles were analyzed and key findings were put together to form a new result. Results 
Two themes emerged: 'the caring encounter' and 'the non-caring encounter'. The results showed that the most important thing was for the patient to be seen by the nurse as a whole person in order to become involved with their own care. Conclusion 
It is important for the nurse to have an understanding for the patients' experiences and it is a challenge to build a caring relationship during the short and rapid encounters. The caring relationship between the nurse and the patient is essential for the outcome of the care given.