Intensive Care Units (ICUs) are special wards that provide treatment for people who are critically ill and need special treatment and support for their vital functions. Patients may need intensive care for example if they have problems with breathing, heart function or blood vessels or if they have a serious infection. Some patients need intensive care also after surgery. ICU patients need continuous monitoring, observation, special medication and equipment in order to sustain normal body function. Specially trained nurses take care of one or two patient in each shift. Doctors in ICUs are specialists in critical care.

When someone is critically ill, it is a crisis not only for the patient himself but also for his family and relatives. Also relatives need support and the nurses have to pay attention to their needs too.

The aim of this thesis was to describe nurses' experiences of meeting patients' relatives in Intensive Care Unit. The research was made with a qualitative method and the data was collected by using theme-based interview. Five nurses were interviewed from the Intensive Care Units in Oulu University Hospital. The recorded interviews were transcribed and analyzed by using content analysis method. The study was commissioned by Oulu University Hospital.

The study revealed that nurses' working experience helps and improves communication with patients' relatives. Also a good multiprofessional co-operation and the support from colleagues improves nursing. According to the nurses, hurry, rapidly changing situations and relatives whose behavior is challenging make nursing and communication difficult.

The results give good informations about nurses' experiences of meeting patients' relatives in ICU. The results can be used in developing nurses' communication skills and co-operation with other professions and relatives. Also we got useful information of this topic and this information would help us when working in ICU in the future.