The purpose of this phenomenological pilot study was to describe the experience that nurses have in providing spiritual care to their patients and/or patients' family members. Three nurses with a variety of clinical backgrounds were interviewed to elicit their experience of providing spiritual care. The data were analyzed using Colaizzi's method to reveal seven themes: the spiritual nurse, capturing the elusive and abstract nature of spirituality, the nurse-client spiritual journey, opening the doors for the spiritual journey, choosing to be silent, the nurse as a role model for spiritual behaviors, and reaping the benefits of spiritual care. Limitations and implications of the findings are discussed.
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