Nurses are being challenged to review their role in the ambulatory care setting and to determine how best to care for their patients. Nurses feel they cannot provide quality-nursing care to the rising number of cancer patients. While the numbers of patients and physicians have increased nursing numbers have remained the same.

Nurses must examine their own caring and how it impacts the health of the patient. Mayer (1987) noted �caring is the central focus, the very essence of nursing yet it is not well defined or understood� (p48). According to Leninger �caring is one of the most crucial and essential ingredients for health, human development, human relatedness, well-being and survival�(as cited in Larson, 1995.p.481).

This website will give the health care provider an idea on how the concept of caring has been researched. Caring behaviours from a nurse and patient perspective may also be viewed. This is particularly important during this time of health care review.