Att vårda palliativt : Sjuksköterskors erfarenheter av att vårda patienter med cancer i livets slutskede

Background: Patients in end of life that receive palliative care, experience a better quality of life compared to those who does not receive it. The palliative care philosophy aims to alleviate suffering. The nurses have a responsibility to provide a good care and to be a good support for the patients and their relatives. Aim: To describe nurses’ experiences of palliative care for patients with cancer in end of life. Method: A qualitative systematic literature study with descriptive synthesis. Result: Nurses experienced that working within the palliative care was not only about having a professional role, it also required commitment in the nursing care. To be committed to the patients was considered both strenuous and giving. A part of the caring process was centred on the caring relationship, the approach of the emotional suffering and to see the patients in their entirety. This was considered to help the patients and their relatives to a good death. Conclusion: The nurses reported that they were comfortable in their area of expertise and had a great desire to create a good quality of life for the patients. However, they are in need of more expertise to handle the spiritual suffering that occur as the patients reach the end of life. Keywords: Cancer, end of life care, experiences, nurses’, palliative car