‘The look that passed between us’: phenomenological reflections on a nursing practitioner’s encounter of the spirituality of sick children

While much has been written about ‘touching encounters’ between nurses and patients, there is a paucity of literature concerning the look that passes between the nurse and the child in paediatric care and what this tells us about children’s spirituality. Using a phenomenology of practice, we use the anecdotes of the second named author (Melissa) to explore ‘the look’ that passes between child and nurse, and what is revealed about the child’s spirituality. Two particular ‘looks’ experienced in Melissa’s practice – (1) smiling looks and fleeting glimpses, and (2) the painful look – are explored. Each look revealed something about the child’s spirituality. We conclude from our modest investigation that while nursing practitioners need to be clinical, they also need to be mindful of engaging with the spiritual dimension to improve beneficial outcomes for spiritual care. We draw on a model of spiritual-informed care to suggest appropriate practices to enhance spiritual care.