NÄR EN NÄRSTÅENDE AVLIDER : Sjuksköterskors erfarenheter i mötet med anhöriga

Background: The patient’s last days affect the relative immensely and without support the relative can suffer from prolonged grief and ill health. In the meeting between nurses and relatives of patients who receive end of life care, it is important to also see the relatives as individuals. Relatives appreciate good communication and cooperation with the nurses, so that they can give the patient a good death, a knowledge that is lacking in some wards. Aim: The aim was to describe nurses’ experiences in meeting relatives in end-of-life care. Method: Systematic qualitative literature review based on Evans. Results: Two themes emerged after analysis, A Good Death and Relatives’ Participation. Based on these themes, five subthemes were identified, Knowledge, To create a calm, The influence of relatives, Communication and Obstacles. Conclusion: There are difficulties in meeting and dealing with relatives of patients at the end of life. Partly because of the relatives' right to participate, because there are laws and guidelines to follow, but also because of the emotions that can arise in the crisis that everyone involved is in. Nurses need knowledge about the dying process and how to encounter both the patient and relatives to be able to offer a good death with dignity. Keywords: End of life care, experiences, nurses, palliative care, relatives.