Introduction: The palliative care approach aims to integrate psychosocial and existential aspects as well as relationship aspects in the care and can be used in all care contexts. In residential care, nurse assistants (NAs) are the ones who are closest to the residents, but have limited prerequisites to work in accordance with the palliative care approach. We aimed to investigate the effects of an intervention applying a palliative care approach in residential care, on NAs experience of care provision and caring climate.

Method: In this quasi-experimental study we evaluated the intervention involving NAs (n=75) and their leaders (n=9), focusing on emotional, existential and relationship aspects within the palliative care approach, in comparison with controls (n=110). Data consisted of a questionnaire that the NAs answered at three time points.

Results: In the intervention group, effects were seen concerning the NAs reports of the care provision in that they focused more on to ease for residents to narrate about their lives, and on communication with residents in what gives them meaning in life. In the intervention group effects were also seen in that the NAs rated the residents medical and nursing care needs being less met at the facility after the intervention. No effects were seen concerning the caring climate or the possibilities to provide a more person-centered care.

Conclusion: The intervention seemingly facilitated for the NAs to focus on relationship aspects with the residents. But the intervention was not sufficient to change the organizational prerequisites for the staff to provide a more person-centered care.