The shining stranger. Nurse-family spiritual relationship.

The purpose of this study was to uncover, through nurses' and families' descriptions of their hospice experience, the elements comprising the nurse-family spiritual relationship. Findings were synthesized into five themes: nurses' ways of being, nurses' ways of doing, nurses' ways of knowing, ways of receiving and giving, and ways of welcoming a stranger. Results indicated that the nurse-family spiritual relationship is mutual and dialogic, and fosters spiritual growth for both nurses and families. Implications for nursing practice and theory are discussed.