Background: According to the ethical guidelines, family members of the patient should be allowed to be present during cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). Nurses should be able to, besides performing CPR, decide if family presence is appropriate, support and explain the course of events to the family. Aim: The aim of this study was to illuminate nurses' experiences of family presence during resuscitation. Method: A literature study has been made of 11 qualitative studies, where differences and similarities were analysed. The studies were published between the years 2000 – 2015. Result: Two main themes were identified and five subthemes. The main themes were: "The nurse's experience of their work situation" and "The nurse's experience of the circumstances that affects the nursing". The findings showed that the nurses experienced a dilemma when they needed to decide if family presence was appropriate. The nurses experienced that a bond could be created with the families through the role of support person. They experienced that the family members could participate in the care but they could also be a distraction and a source of stress. Conclusion: Clear local guidelines would facilitate the decision if family presence is appropriate. A support person for the family would also facilitate the family's presence. More education and experience in this subject helps nurses overcome fears of difficulties often associated with family presence.

Det råder delade meningar angående närståendes närvaro under hjärt-lungräddning på sjukhus. Trots internationella riktlinjer från Emergency Nursing Association som säger att närstående bör erbjudas möjlighet att närvara under hjärt- lungräddning så följs ej dessa generellt på sjukhusen. Syftet: Var att beskriva närståendes upplevelser att närvara under hjärt-lungräddning på sjukhus. Metod: En litteraturstudie har gjorts där 13 vetenskapliga artiklar har granskats. Resultat: Närstående ville ha en valmöjlighet om de skulle närvara eller ej. De flesta närstående var nöjda med sitt beslut att närvara och skulle göra det igen trots att situationen upplevdes som svår. Närstående kände samhörighet med patienten och upplevde att de hanterade situationen bättre om de fick kontinuerlig information om händelseförloppet samt hade en stödperson vid sin sida. Sorgen underlättades då de delat den sista stunden med sin närstående. Slutsats: Närståendes närvaro under hjärt-lungräddning är fortfarande ett relativt outforskat område. Valmöjligheten att närvara är viktig, likaså kontinuerlig information och att ha en stödperson hos sig under hjärt-lungräddningen anses väsentligt. Närstående som varit närvarande under hjärt- lungräddning uppvisar lägre tendens till negativa psykologiska effekter och upplever även att sorgeprocessen underlättas. / A difference of opinion exists regarding the issue of relatives being present during cardiopulmonary resuscitation in hospital. Despite international guidelines from the Emergency Nursing Association stating that relatives should be offered the opportunity to be present during cardiopulmonary resuscitation, this is generally not the case. The aim: of this study was to describe relatives' experiences of being present during cardiopulmonary resuscitation in hospital. Method: A literature review in which 13 scientific papers have been reviewed. Results: Relatives preferred to be given the option to attend the cardiopulmonary resuscitation or not. Most relatives were satisfied with their decision to attend and would do it again even though the situation was perceived as difficult. Relatives experienced an emotional connection with the patient and felt that they handled the situation better if they were given continuous information on the events and had a support person at their side. Relatives also felt it easier to cope with the grieving process when they had shared their loved ones last moment. Conclusion: The attendance of relatives during cardiopulmonary resuscitation is still a relatively unexplored area. To be given the option to attend or not is important, as is continuous information during the resuscitation as well as a support person throughout the process. Relatives who were present during resuscitation showed lower tendency to experience negative psychological effects, and that the grieving process felt easier to go through.