The clinical environments in which nurses work vary widely and the practice of spiritual caring may also differ between environments. Differences have been found to exist between hospice and oncology nurses in their spiritual care practices and perspectives (Taylor et al. 1999). Hospice nurses assumed more positive spiritual perspectives and were more likely to practice spiritual care (Taylor et al.1999). Although both nursing specialties have a focus on caring for persons who are living with terminal conditions, the hospice clinical environment was also more conducive
to spiritual caring through stronger employer support (Taylor et al. 1999). The clinical environment for hospice nursing is one with a focus on end of life issues and often concentration on meeting patients’ and their families’ spiritual needs (Belcher & Griffiths 2005). The hospice nurses’ commitment to the delivery of spiritual caring was
associated highly with their patients’ spiritual needs: the need for meaning and purpose in life, the need to give and to receive love and the need for hope and for creativity (Taylor et al. 1999).