Background:

Many patients need emergency care in Sweden, leading to an increased amount of patients waiting in the emergency departments. This affects a reduced percolation in the emergency department, an increased waiting time for the patients, especially those patients with low priority. Research about how patients' experience the waiting time is limited and more information is needed. This information could provide valuable knowledge of how the care can be improved during waiting.

Aim:

The aim of study is to examine patient's experience of waiting in the emergency department. Method: A literature-review based on qualitative and quantitative articles, analyzed according to Friberg (2012).

Results:

The analysis led to one overall theme; "to wait in no-man's-land", consisting of four subthemes; "expectations of the emergency department", "to receive information" "not to be seen" and "physical and psychological environment". All of the subthemes describe factors that affect the patient's experiences of waiting in the emergency department. The patient's expectations on the emergency department also affect the experience of waiting and during the waiting time it was important to gain information about what to expect. Both the relation with the nursing staff so as the environment played a crucial part of how wait was experienced. Conclusion: A long uneventful wait can cause suffering for the patient and the nursing staff can prevent unnecessary suffering with a welcoming attitude, information and by creating a peaceful environment.