Although hospice nurses reported more support from employers in the palliative care environment than did oncology nurses (Taylor et al. 1999), RNs in the current study also demonstrated a difference in spiritual caring practice between palliative care and acute environments. Clinical environments are comprised of the systems supporting the care and also the philosophies guiding that care. The acute care environments have a curative philosophy (Ebright et al. 2003) whereas palliative care is guided by symptom
relief and attending end of life issues and associated care (World Health Organisation 2002). Acute care environments, being focused on cure, may view spiritual matters as the
domain of clergy and pastoral carers in the acute environment.