Background: Intimate partner violence is currently a serious global social issue, primarily affecting women. Nurses play a central role in supporting and identifying women exposed to violence, but these encounters often involve emotional and ethical challenges. 

Aim: To describe nurses’ experiences from encounters within healthcare settings with women who have been exposed to intimate partner violence. 

Method: A general literature review with a qualitative approach. Ten scientific articles published between 2015 and 2025 were thematically analyzed using Braun and Clarke’s method to identify patterns in nurses’ experiences.

Results: Three main themes were identified: emotional impact and ethical dilemmas, professional insecurity and lack of knowledge, and the influence of cultural and societal norms. Nurses experienced guilt, emotional burden, inadequate training, and uncertainty in how to care for women exposed to violence, particularly in culturally sensitive contexts. A lack of organizational support and clear guidelines further complicated nursing care. 

Conclusion: Nurses experience a lack of support and uncertainty when encountering women exposed to intimate partner violence. Clear guidelines, improved education and a person-centred care environment are essential to ensure adequate and safe care. 

Keywords: Experiences, Intimate partner violence, Nurses, Women exposed to violence.