Background: To wait on an emergency department is a reflected and well-documented problem. Thou it´s mainly due to a patient perspective should also nurses' perspectives be significant to obtain a faceted perception of the phenomenon. Aim: The purpose of this study was to describe how nurses perceive the phenomenon of anticipation of a somatic emergency department. Method: The analysis was performed using a phenomenological approach. The study was conducted in a medium-sized hospital in southern Sweden, during the latter part of 2005, and had a qualitative approach based on a lifeworld perspective. Data collection consisted of written stories from twelve nurses. Results: The results indicated that the waiting was the scene of the expectations. These expectations led to dilemmas, powerlessness and frustration, the more the phenomenon was allowed to stand. It also found that nurses' experience of powerlessness, combined with her responsibility for the patient's welfare was a paradox, ie. an absurdity, yet a truth. The work environment was marked by threats of violence but also by the feeling of inadequacy. Conclusion: Overall, a caring suffering emerged. This prevented the nurses to care for as she wished. The result can be viewed as a basis for improvement in emergency department