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Background: Older patients who are admitted to hospital for surgery are moved quickly between different levels in the health service. These patients can be exposed to unnecessary suffering related to care, which can become an additional burden and impede convalescence. Objective: To describe nurses’ experiences with suffering related to care that is inflicted on older patients undergoing surgical procedures. Method: The study has a qualitative, exploratory design and comprises a total of seven interviews. We conducted one focus group interview, five qualitative in-depth interviews with two informants in each group and one individual interview with one nurse. Fifteen nurses participated, who either worked in the community nursing service, nursing homes or operating theatres. Results: The nurses who participated had experienced nurses behaving disrespectfully towards older patients. Conflicts of values arose in the interaction between patients and healthcare personnel, and it was difficult to discuss unethical behaviour with managers or colleagues. Patients did not always receive appropriate pain relief and did not always receive help when they pressed the alarm button or asked for help. Conclusion: Older patients are at risk of suffering related to care in the form of violations of dignity, neglect and lack of appropriate pain relief during the surgical pathway, where patients are moved quickly between different units. Suffering that is unnecessarily inflicted on patients can be prevented by talking to the patient and his or her family. Ethically responsible management requires good communication and ethical reflection with colleagues on observed violations of dignity.

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