Background: Patients in a palliative stage are often fragile and exposed and therefore dependent on nursing from others. Palliative care focus on the situation right here and now and emphasizes that the patient should experience a dignified dying. The nurse has an important role in promoting a dignified dying and it is therefore important that the nurse is aware of what interventions and which approaches that will benefit the patient to experience dignity.

Aim: The aim of this study was to highlight how the nurse in her interventions and approaches can contribute to a dignified dying among patients in a palliative phase based on patients and nurses perspectives. Method: A literature-review was used as method and is based on six qualitative studies and five studies with mixed-methods.

Results: Through the analysis two significant themes emerged. The first theme was about the interaction between nurses and patients. The theme describes how the nurse can promote a dignified dying by building a relationship with the patient, communicate with the patient and by making the patient involved in his/her own care. The second theme is about the nurses efforts to promote the patients physical, psychological and spiritual needs. The theme describes how the nurse can promote a dignified dying by providing symptom relief, meet patients religious and spiritual needs and by promoting the patients autonomy and self-esteem. Conclusion: The experience of dignity is individual and it is therefore important that the patient is given an opportunity to express what is significant to her so that the nurse can adapt the care. A feeling of dignity within the patient can appear if the nurse is aware of her approach and which nursing interventions that are of importance and how they should be carried out.