Sacred Care in Context: Phenomenological Insights into Spiritual Care Practices Among Oncology Nurses in Saudi Arabia

This study explores the lived experiences of oncology nurses providing spiritual care within Saudi Arabia's Islamic cultural context. Guided by a descriptive phenomenological design and Colaizzi's method of analysis, in-depth interviews were conducted with 22 registered oncology nurses working in three cancer centers in Riyadh. Findings reveal that nurses conceptualize spiritual care not as discrete religious practices, but as an integrated, relational dimension of everyday nursing, grounded in Islamic moral and spiritual values. Spiritual care was understood as compassionate presence, ethical mediation, family facilitation, and meaning-centered communication, often experienced as a form of worship (ibādah). Five themes emerged: 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. The study highlights the need for culturally responsive spiritual care education and institutional frameworks that recognize spiritual care as a core professional nursing competency within Islamic healthcare settings.