Upplevelser av att vårda patienter i livets slutskede : Ur sjuksköterskors perspektiv

Background: Patients with cancer who are cared for at the end of life and theirrelatives wish that the last times they have will be good. Research shows that the presence ofnurses is crucial for the patients’ experience of being cared for at the end of life. Patients andrelatives felt that lack of support from nurses increased their concerns about the future. Thisplace demands on nurses’ ability to treat patients and relatives with dignity but also toprovide good care for patients in the last days of life. Aim: was to describe nurses’ experiences of end of life care of patients with cancer. Method: A systematic literature study with a descriptive synthesis based on Evans’ analysismethod. Results: Nurses experienced that caring for patients at the end of life could both strengthenthem and pose challenges. Professional development increased through the support of theteam. The challenges were difficulties in handling communication, finding a balance in careand that they experienced insuffieciency in care. Conclusions: Nurses experienced that caring for patients at the end of life wasstrengthening and challenging on a personal as well as professional level. The challenges inthe work contributed to developing their ability to provide the best possible care towards theend of life. The presence of nurses was experiencedto be significant for patients being caredfor at the end of life and their relatives