A review and synthesis of the literature: the use of presence in the nursing care of families.

With the current emphasis on cost-consciousness in health care, nurses must re-examine resources that may already exist yet are underutilized in the provision of care for patients. Two such resources, the nurse's use of her or his presence as a therapeutic process in stimulating patients' healing and the contributions of patients' families to care delivery, are frequently overlooked. This paper critically reviews the literature regarding presence with a focus on the relevance of this caring behavior to family-centered nursing. Conceptual and practice knowledge gaps are identified and implications for future research are indicated.