Promoting a nurturing work environment is the focus of this paper. The work setting is an oncology unit, but the concept is universal to any health care situation. The nurturing roles and responsibilities of head nurse, clinical nurse specialist, staff nurses, and non-nursing colleagues are explored. Components of a nurturing environment are discussed, including the physical environment, multidisciplinary care teams, staff support mechanisms, quality assurance and research programs, and patient/family considerations. Open, nurturing communication (among nursing leaders and nurses) is emphasized as basic to job satisfaction and professional growth.