Although the work of oncology nurses is physically and emotionally demanding, this may not be perceived as the focus of oncology work by the nurses themselves. In a field study, 17 oncology nurses described a shift in work focus and redefinition of goals from quantitative progress to qualitative care. This created a new environment for nurse-patient interaction, where the nurse perceived that nurse and patient were working together toward shared goals. The nurse's caring for the patient and family was a caring or connectedness with dimensions beyond what usually is found in nursing work. The relationship remained professional, but also went beyond that. These oncology nurses discussed the caring relationship aspect of their work and often called their work “real nursing.” Those nurses who described the greatest overall satisfaction with their work also described a work environment that supported independence and was nourishing to the nurse. For those unhappy with their work setting, satisfaction with the nurse-patient relationship seemed a refuge from an otherwise unrewarding job. What these nurses seemed to receive from the nurse-patient exchange was a perception of self as a good person being a good nurse contributing to a worthwhile endeavor. The focus for these nurses was on having gained on two levels, i.e., professional and personal. The impact from these two levels seemed to combine to have a positive impact on the nurses' lives extending beyond the work world.