Oncology nurses linked spiritual care to everyday nursing in Saudi Arabia

What the study found: Oncology nurses in this study described spiritual care as an integrated, relational part of everyday nursing rather than as separate religious practices. They linked it to Islamic moral and spiritual values, and often experienced it as a form of worship (ibādah).
Why the authors say this matters: The authors conclude that the findings indicate a need for culturally responsive spiritual care education and institutional frameworks. They say these should recognize spiritual care as a core professional nursing competency within Islamic healthcare settings.
What the researchers tested: The study used a descriptive phenomenological design and Colaizzi's method of analysis. The researchers conducted in-depth interviews with 22 registered oncology nurses working in three cancer centers in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
What worked and what didn't: The findings suggest that nurses understood spiritual care through five themes: spiritual care through an Islamic lens; the sacred dimensions of nursing practice; navigating professional and religious boundaries; family-centered spiritual support; and nurses' personal spiritual resources and challenges. Spiritual care was described as compassionate presence, ethical mediation, family facilitation, and meaning-centered communication.
What to keep in mind: The abstract does not describe specific limitations of the study. The findings come from 22 nurses in three cancer centers in Riyadh, so the available summary is limited to that setting.

Key points

• Nurses described spiritual care as part of everyday nursing, not as separate religious rituals.
• Spiritual care was linked to Islamic moral and spiritual values and sometimes described as worship (ibādah).
• Five themes emerged, including family-centered spiritual support and personal spiritual resources and challenges.
• The authors say the findings support culturally responsive spiritual care education and institutional frameworks.
• The study used in-depth interviews with 22 registered oncology nurses in three cancer centers in Riyadh.