Background:

The number of blood borne infections is constantly increasing. Previous research has discovered attitudes and discrimination in the caring relation among nurses towards patients with blood borne infections. Nurses want to keep a distance from patients with blood borne infections, this can be derived from fear and lack of knowledge.

Aim:

To explore nurses' experience of the caring relation towards patients affected by blood borne infection.

Method:

A literature study based on ten qualitative studies.

Results:

In the result, five sub themes were found that described the caring relation. Emotional stress, powerlessness, attitudes, lack of knowledge/fear and knowledge/security were areas that nurses described as either encouraging or inhibiting the relation towards patients with blood borne infections. Uncertainty and lack of knowledge among the nurses were factors that lead to fear of getting virus infected.

Conclusion:

Lack of knowledge, stigma, helplessness and fear is main factors that influence the caring relation between nurse and patient. Nurses experience lack of support when it comes to caring for patients with blood borne infections, this leads to unsureness and negative attitudes among the nurses.