Nurse's experiences of meeting patients' existential and spiritual thoughts in palliative care

Background: Existential and spiritual thoughts are a big part of pallative care. The terms existential and spiritual can be understood in many different ways. It may mean thoughts about faith or thoughts concerning life and death. The nurse in palliative care need to have good communication skills, be responsible and be present and supportive in meeting with the patient. Aim: To describe the nurse's experiences of meeting patients' existential and spiritual thoughts in palliative care. Methods: A literature review based on 10 scientific studies have been done. The studies have been downloaded from the following scientific databases; Academic Search preimer, CINAHL Plus with Full Text, and PubMed. Keywords that were used: Palliative care, Issue, Existential, Communication, Spiritial experiences, Nurse, Nurses, Existential questions, Nurse specialists. As a theoretical framework for this literature review, the model of the 6 S:n was applied. This model aims to create a holistic approach to the patient through planning, documentation, implementation and evaluation of ongoing care. The goal is to promote patients' wishes and thus a good death. Results: The results of the literature review is presented in four themes. The understanding of the concepts of existential and spiritual concerns the meaning and significance of the terms for the nurse. To feel responsible highlights the nurse's ability to meet existential and spiritual needs. To manage their own emotions focuses on how the nurse herself is influenced by patients' existential and spiritual needs and thoughts. The last theme Conversation is about using the conversation as a tool to meet patients' existential and spiritual thoughts. Discussions: Two following themes is presented in the discussion; The understanding of the concepts of existential and spiritual, and To feel responsible. These are discussed against the theory of the 6 S:n, with a focus on S:n contexts and strategies