Background

Palliative care aims to relieve suffering and promote quality of life for the patient who suffers from incurable, progressive disease or injury and to support the family. The nurse function within palliative care is to offer support to patient and family and also to provide symptom management.

Aim

This study aims to explore the nurses' experiences of supporting patients obtaining palliative care.

Method

This literature study was based on eleven qualitative articles.

Result

Four main themes and ten subthemes emerged. The main themes were To create a relationship, To ensure the uniqueness of each individual, Being professional and To be affected by the work. Subthemes were To be there, To build bridges, See the person behind the disease, Adapt to the patient, Provide individual care, Knowledge-intensive, Leave work at work, "To be the spider in the web", Self-development and Feelings of stress.

Conclusion

The conclusion that can be drawn is that for nurses to work with palliative care is rewarding. The nurse, patient and family are drawn together. In order to provide good palliative care is a good relationship between nurse and patient required. It also turns out that the nurses themselves are in need of support and that the organizations fail at this point.