Ida (not real name) had been in the hospital for four days when her mother asked the hospital chaplain to visit. Ida is four years old, a daughter of a single parent. She was struggling to breathe with respiratory problem. After spending sleepless, disorienting days and nights at her bedside, Monica (name changed) needed someone to talk to.During this visit this chaplain author learnt that family members, friends, and co-workers had come to visit Monica and her daughter, and they were great. Monica stated to the chaplain that she really wanted them around, but she laments that they didn’t understand the clinical language that defined her new existence and that of her daughter. Monica explained to chaplain that the doctors and nurses were polite, efficient, and professional by all means, but focused on their jobs.
This author chaplain is writing this article to explain the role of a hospital chaplain. Many patients and families of loved ones in hospital think of a hospital chaplain only as a priest who delivers last rites when a person is dying. In-fact, many times this author chaplain has visited with many patients who decline the visit stating that they are not dying. At one point, the author chaplain was making daily morning rounds in a regular medical Unit, and patient Mary (name changed) inquired from this chaplain wether he knew something that she does not know. Mary thought that her prognosis was poor and that the chaplain was coming to prepare her for the worst news.
Of course, if you are religiously observant, chaplains can offer you Communion, light Shabbat candles, read scriptures, provide anointing, among other religious Rites. A chaplain is someone whose job is to help patients, families and hospital staff find their place both emotionaly and spiritualy. But chaplains are not just for religious folks, they’re for everybody. Since all human being are spiritual being, chaplain is for them all. " A chaplain is fo people of faith and those of none." Source unknow.
Most of you reading this article know vey well that being in hospital can be very isolating. Probably having been there yourself of having a loved one there. It is the role of a chaplain to come in and pull the curtains back on that dark room and help patient remember there is more to their life than being a patient. The chaplain does not necessary visit to talk to the patients, but also to listen and empathize with them. As a chaplain this author find himself many times simply sitting and listening to patients tell their story.
To be effective chaplain you let your patients take the lead. Monica was in the best hospital as she later told this chaplain, had been seen by professional doctors and nurses were very caring, but she observed that they had no time to listen to her. The chaplain is a safe person to talk to, someone with no agenda except the well-being of the patient and has time to listen. Chaplains are resources for all things, religious, spiritual, and emotional, social etc. While doctors and other staff might be able to fill some of those needs, chaplains are professionals in this area. Because many people don’t know about chaplaincy services, or hesitate to call on a chaplain even if one is available, the service is underused. Some of the duties of this chaplain author in the hospital that he works is to help patient with Medical Power of Attorney, the Directives to Physician, bedside prayer, serving Holy Communion, being a laision person between the patient and local community or chuches among others. Most patients decline this free service citing that they don’t have enough more to pay for the service.
When this chaplain arrived in Ida’s room, he was just what her mother needed. Monica later told this chaplain that she needed someone wearing normal clothes (not scrubs, and lab coats), who sat with her and asked about Ida, and about listened to her story, and said a little healing prayer for Ida . The chaplain learnt later that Ida’s mom was not a practicing Christian, and yet she needed a chaplain for she knew the chaplain will provided her emotional and spiritual needs. During this visit Monica was in tears, at finaly she was able to express emotions with the help of the chaplain, and ofcource the chaplain was empathic with Monica and her situation.
It is the advice of this chaplain that, if you find yourself in the hospital as a patient, or with a love one as a patient, like Monica and Ida the young one, why not ask the nurse if the chaplain can drop in on you? A little human contact might do you good—no religious beliefs required.