Nurses’ experiences of caring for young adults in the terminal phase of end-of-life care

Background: Caring for young adults at the end of life presents unique challenges for nurses. This patient group is in a life stage marked by personal development, independence and future aspirations, making encounters with death particularly emotional and existentially demanding. Nurses must balance professional competence with empathy, navigating complex emotional and relational dynamics while promoting dignity, safety, and person-centred care. Aim: The aim of this study was to describe nurses' experiences of providing care to young adults in the palliative phase of life. Method: This study is a literature review based on qualitative research. A systematic search was conducted in the CINAHL and PubMed databases to identify peer-reviewed articles. The analysis was performed using Friberg’s model for qualitative synthesis, which involves identifying, comparing, and integrating key findings to create an overall interpretation of nurses' experiences in caring for young adults at the end of life. Results: The analysis revealed that nurses face significant emotional strain, including feelings of sorrow, helplessness, and guilt, often intensified by the patient’s young age. Relational challenges include maintaining professional boundaries while providing emotional support, particularly when dealing with families’ expectations and the patient's autonomy. Nurses also experienced ethical dilemmas in balancing the need for patient autonomy with their professional responsibilities, compounded by organisational constraints such as a lack of time and resources. Peer support and reflection were identified as crucial strategies for coping. Conclusion: Caring for young adults in palliative care requires a person-centred approach that considers both the patient’s needs and the emotional resilience of the nurse. Understanding nurses’ experiences emphasises the importance of structured support, communication training, and organisational strategies to promote sustainable practice and deliver compassionate, high-quality care.