Aim and objectives The aim of this study was two-fold: to illuminate registered nurses’ experiences of palliative care and of caring for patients transitioning from curative to palliative care in hospitals.

Design A qualitative descriptive design was used.

Methods Group interviews were conducted with eleven registered nurses in three different hospital settings. Content analysis was performed.

Results The results are presented in four themes: Understanding palliativecare in a hospital setting; Involving, supporting and caring for patients and families; Striving for consensus and common goals of care; and Struggling with the hospital environment.The registered nurses described struggling with the interpretation of palliative care and with how to transfer it into clinical practice in their specific care settings. Teamwork and collaboration was challenging, and goals of care incongruent within the team.

Conclusions Further implementation of a palliative care approach, with core components symptom relief, teamwork, communication and relationship, and family support, is crucial to improve both patient care and the conditions enabling registered nurses to provide good care for the patients and their families in hospital settings.