Sjuksköterskors upplevelser av att vårda palliativa patienter under Covid-19-Pandemin

Sammanfattning: Background: Palliative care is given to patients in the end-of-life stage to prevent and ease suffering. Nurses play an important role for the palliative patient and the goal is to maintain agood quality of life as long as possible. The outbreak of the Covid-19-Pandemic led to organizational changes including visitor and resource restrictions. Not only did the pandemic affect societies but also nurses’ work-related environment and how to communicate with patients, relatives, and other health care personnel. Aim: The aim of this study was to describe nurses’ experiences of providing care to palliative patients during the Covid-19-Pandemic. Method: A qualitative literature study based on eleven scientific articles which were analyzed with Friberg´s five-step model. Results: The results show two main themes and seven sub-themes. Nurses experienced greater responsibility and heavier workload than before the pandemic. The workload affected their work environment in a negative way, which also had an impact on patients and their relatives.Visitor restrictions and the protective gear made communication complicated for patients, relatives and nurses. Feelings such as not being able to do enough, suffering and helplessness were common among nurses at this time. Conclusion: The conclusion is that nurses and their workload were negatively affected by Covid-19-Pandemic. Nurses need an increased workforce and receive better support in similar crises in the future. There is a risk that the person-centered care will suffer greatly, and nurses' health will be negatively affected otherwise.