Aim: The goal was to explore the factors that influence adherence by internal medicine nurses (IMNs) to recommendations provided by a palliative care consultant nurse (PCN) in a Swiss teaching hospital. Method: A qualitative phenomenological approach was applied. Using convenience sampling, IMNs were interviewed one-on-one (semi-structured questions). Two conceptual frameworks (Zay et al. 1997; Sauve 2001) were used as a starting point for data coding. New categories and themes then emerged. Results: Data saturation was achieved after five interviews. Five categories emerged: alterity; transparency; communication; time; and sense of ownership. Adherence requires a personal rapport and trust between the IMNs and PCNs. A focus on supporting IMNs rather than focusing only on the patient enhances adherence. Conclusions: Our palliative care team needs to review its model of consultation, possibly adopting one that focuses more on supporting the primary teams. Formal and informal strategies to improve the rapport with IMN will be sought. Awareness by the PCN of the inferiority felt by the IMNs may enhance rapport building.