title: Silence: a double-edged sword.
abstract: The author in this column discusses the concept silence and the contradictions present with silence. Silence can be experienced in the following life patterns: silence as a pattern of surrendering to moments of awakening; silence as a pattern of bearing witness to life story; and, silence as a pattern of betrayal of trust. Each of these patterns is explored with their relevance for nursing.
authors.affiliation: South Dakota State University, 1119 Plum Creek Road, Sioux Falls, SD 57105, USA. tsbunkers@sio.midco.net
authors.forename: Sandra Schmidt
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Bunkers
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D013016:Sound; D035502:Trust