Background In healthcare, relatives are considered an integral part of nurses' care. The end of life signifies a loss and grief for relatives—a loss that affects people in different ways and can manifest through various grief reactions. This can lead to challenges in how grieving relatives are addressed. To understand how nurses can support grieving relatives, an investigation is conducted into nurses' previous experiences of supporting grieving relatives.

Aim The aim was to describe nurses' experiences of dealing with relatives in grief.

Method A general literature review that provides an overview of previous research which, including eleven articles: nine qualitative, one quantitative, and one using a mixed-method approach.

Results The analysis revealed three themes: the importance of communication in interactions with relatives, challenges in addressing grieving relatives, and strategies and approaches to support them. The results shows that communication, empathetic and respect, competence, and managing situations involving grieving relatives are essential in nurses' support.

Conclusion Being able to support grieving relatives is part of nurses' responsibilities, which is crucial for providing appropriate support. Reflecting on nurses' approaches fosters development, which can enhance their competence and build greater trust among relatives.