Nurses’ views on supporting young adults with terminally ill parents in Norwegian hospitals

Background: Young adults are often overlooked as a group of relatives. The aim of this study is to provide knowledge from the nurse’s perspective regarding how young adult relatives are cared for when attending to their terminally ill parents in hospitals. Method: The study employed a qualitative design in which three focus group interviews were conducted with 13 nurses. Data were analyzed using systematic text condensation, utilizing a phenomenological approach. Results: Three themes related to nurses’ experiences were emphasized: applying your skills and expertise as a nurse, meeting barriers and insecurity in the care process and being caught between legislation and personal values. Conclusion: Nurses identified their availability and relational and ethical skill as vital in fostering security and predictability for young adults. However, their insecurity and conflict between legal duties and personal values impacted this. Further research is needed to understand the young relatives’ perspectives.