Background: Global conflicts have led to record numbers of refugees. Refugees are at increased risk of complex health conditions but often face barriers to accessing healthcare in their new host country, such as language barriers, lack of knowledge of the healthcare system and cultural differences. This contributes to their lower rates of seeking care, despite their greater need. Nurses have an ethical responsibility to provide person-centered and culturally competent care, and through increased knowledge of migration and its impact on health, as well as social determinants, care can become more equal and inclusive.

Aim: To describe nurses’ experiences of providing care to refugees within the healthcare system.

Method: A systematic literature review was conducted according to Polit and Beck's nine-step model. Qualitative interview studies were searched in the databases CINAHL and PubMed based on established inclusion criteria. Nine articles were analyzed with thematic analysis according to Braun and Clarke. All included studies had undergone ethical review and followed the principles of the Helsinki Declaration.

Results: The thematic analysis of nine qualitative studies from five countries, Turkey, Australia, Sweden, Finland and the UK, resulted in three main themes and nine sub-themes.

Conclusion: Nurses face great challenges in caring for refugees, but at the same time have a strong ethical drive to provide good care. The results emphasize the need for tailored interventions, improved coordination and further research to strengthen refugees' access to equitable care.