On being a hospital chaplain

[ringil]

Ok, that helps me understand where you are coming from. To answer that directly, I am not really interested in “churching” people. It isn’t part of my job, even in a Catholic hospital. So what do I do?

When a patient is in pain every person on the staff has a job. The doctor asks “where does it hurt?” and prescribes meds. The nurse asks “does it still hurt?” and dispenses meds. The social worker…well you know that one. The PT and OT ask “do we need to help this person get to a point where they can be mobile in that pain or to lessen the pain?” The chaplain asks “what does it mean for you to be in pain?”

For the most part what the chaplain is interested in , at least in room visits, is meaning questions. “How do you feel about being diagnosed with cancer?” “betrayed”. Then I can work with the person on betrayed by who (most likely God in this case) and what that relationship is like for the patient now. Is there a way we can work toward healing it?

We also provide a presence at deaths. Can we help with the grief process? Traumas, can we help deal with the acute crisis the family of the trauma is going through? Staff- can we help them with their anxiety? The list goes on.

I am not interested in what religion people are for the most part. I am interested in what the relationship with their “higher power” (if one) and the world is like for them. It isn’t a theological discussion, as much as I would love to have that sometimes, so much as it is a personal one. Even here on this board, where we would mostly identify as Catholic (shout out to Hokomai for being here and not identifying with a religion) there is a diversity of experience. We have common threads between us but how we understand those threads is shaped by the life we live and the expeiences we have had.

It’s part spiritual advisor, part psychologist, part counselor, part crisis manager, (and other things) and always being present.

GEEZ, it sounds like you get to do the kinds of things I thought social work was about before I became a social worker!

Seriously, you do make the job sound really rewarding!

But I’m not going back to school and that’s final!!

 

[Michael_Mayo]

Good answer, Franciscanguy, a chaplain in the modern healthcare industry is pretty hard to define because we need to try to respect and even honor whatever beliefs a person happens to have. At least accept people where they are at that moment. I sometimes wonder what makes my work different from the social worker or psychologist. I have decided that it is the focus.

So among other things what I try to do is

1. 
   *]Help people connect with God as they understand God
   *]Or just listen as someone shares their view of life
   *]Help people clarify how they understand God or view life
   *]Help people hear God in their present situation
   *]Help people reconcile to God, themselves and others
   *]Be a companion in situations others would avoid
   *]Listen as someone shares, proclaims & reinforces their own faith
   *]Sometimes ask some challenging questions
   *]Provide a presence that lends the wherewithall to cope in crisis
   *]Sometimes, but very carefully, do a little selective self sharing if it seems appropriate
   *]Pray with people if they so desire
   
   The biggest challenge is to listen and respond in a way that invites further reflection.
   
   Not long ago I read an interesting article in a nursing journal on The Nursing Theory of Self Transcendence and another on the Nursing Theory of Spiritual Well-Being. I then began to wonder how many nurses knew about these. I found not very many. Some recalled somthing about Nursing Theory of Spiritual Well-Being from school but most of their on-going training is more technical. Their jobs are extremely demanding. I often tease them that they atually have to know things. All I have to do is listen to people. So I created a little powerpoint about these nursing theories for them just to remind them, affirm them, and encourage them to let themsleves do the interpersonal connecting that brought them into the profession to begin with. Many of the things I listed above are things anyone can do. It is all about letting them be the center of our attention, not me. I believe they can learn more from what they say than what I say. And I hope God can put the words in my mouth when needed,

 

[Michael_Mayo]

I can see your role for non-Catholics in the hospital but what is your role for Catholics and how would this differ from just another layman visiting patients?

If I may again, some people may have a natural instinct or talent for this kind of work but just like the natural ability of a musician, training, practice, and education build on that initial gift.

These days education is even more important. Knowledge of ethical aspects in medical situations; knowledge of different religions & denominations, spiritualities and worship styles; knowledge of scripture, church history & spirituality; knowledge of family systems, social systems & hospital systems; exeprience and training in dealing with specific situations like hospice, trauma, grief, cancer center, SIDS, psych, gerentology, pediatrics, etc. All these areas call for a special approach and awareness of specific issues that can arise.

 

[ringil]

If I may again, some people may have a natural instinct or talent for this kind of work but just like the natural ability of a musician, training, practice, and education build on that initial gift.

These days education is even more important. Knowledge of ethical aspects in medical situations; knowledge of different religions & denominations, spiritualities and worship styles; knowledge of scripture, church history & spirituality; knowledge of family systems, social systems & hospital systems; exeprience and training in dealing with specific situations like hospice, trauma, grief, cancer center, SIDS, psych, gerentology, pediatrics, etc. All these areas call for a special approach and awareness of specific issues that can arise.

After your posts I have a much better notion of what a Chaplain does.

It sounds really appealing to me- like almost tempts me to look into training for it but my wife would kill me.

 

[Michael_Mayo]

After your posts I have a much better notion of what a Chaplain does.

It sounds really appealing to me- like almost tempts me to look into training for it but my wife would kill me.

Well wives, it helps to have their backing, especially if you are on-call and get called in at 2:30 am.

Depending on where you live you can either do a CPE (Clinical Pastoral Education) unit for, I think, 10 weeks full-time maybe with a stipend OR some places have extended units wherein you only go in one day each week for several months.

Let me encourage you. It is difficult to find good certified Catholic Lay Ecclesial Healthcare Ministers (Chaplains).

Here’s a quick question to help you discern:
How are you with getting that call at 2:30 am to come to the ER to be with a family who’s father, son, dtr or mother was just killed in an accident or even suicide? Or the 5:00 am call to be with parents of a SIDS death? That is about as bad as it gets.

 

[Franciscanguy]

I will second that encouragement. The CPE part of the training can be brutal but it makes you a better person as well as a better chaplain. The job is draining but extremely rewarding. Mr. Mayo mentioned earlier about the requisite knowledge base- he is absolutely correct. It’s amazing how much you need to know to minister effectively. And it isn’t just raw knowledge but applications and how that knowledge affects people emotionally, spiritually, and their decision making.

I never thought I would work in a hospital but I love it.

 

[Michael_Mayo]

I never thought I would work in a hospital but I love it.

And the amazing thing is that I am a strong introvert. My 1st vocation was as a frustrated accountant who wanted to be a Trappist. Just let me do my work and keep my mouth shut. Now here I am knocking on peoples’ hospital doors or meeting then in their most intimate life changing moments. Not something I ever thought, imagined nor desired. Yet here God brought me and here I am at peace. Blessed be God forever!

 

[ringil]

I will second that encouragement. The CPE part of the training can be brutal but it makes you a better person as well as a better chaplain. The job is draining but extremely rewarding. Mr. Mayo mentioned earlier about the requisite knowledge base- he is absolutely correct. It’s amazing how much you need to know to minister effectively. And it isn’t just raw knowledge but applications and how that knowledge affects people emotionally, spiritually, and their decision making.

I never thought I would work in a hospital but I love it.

I’m still working off my MSW 10 years later. I think I’m just frustrated with some setbacks in my career. I finally got a clinical license then moved to NY and due to different requirements, no longer have one.

Funny about hospital work- that is one plane I wouldn’t want to work as a SW because it’s just paperwork and discharge planning. BLEH.

You chaplains get to do all the “fun”. May sound like the wrong word but I get a lot of satisfaction when I can be with clients in their most difficult times. To me that’s the real “meat” of Social Work. Kind of sucks that the larger systems seem to want to take the intra-psychic work out of SW and make it about what I call “processing humans.”

I’m trying to get a job in a community health center or counseling center where I can primarily concentrate on individual and group therapy- but for that you often need a clinical license- which as mentioned above. . . . . . UUUUGGGGHHHH. . . . .

Sorry for the rant

 

[Michael_Mayo]

I highly esteem our social workers. Not only do they get involved in the interpersonal work but they also know what “the system” can offer. I think the MSW is probably a more versitile credential. I started out in hospice and learned more about pastoral care from MSWs and nurses than I ever though I could.

(I am off today so I hit the internet between household duties.)

 

[Ginny_Repka]

I live in Central Florida and I am very interested in becoming a Catholic Chaplain. I am currently a teacher but will be retiring in a few years and have been working on my MRS degree in Religious Studies. I would need part time or full time work and feel very called to this vocation.

I am visiting websites to get information but it does not seem like the CPE is offered in many places. Do you know why places to take this training are so scarce if the need is great? I would be willing to travel for a job but can’t for the training which I would do part time. I am in no hurry but I know that those in need may be. I was in the hospital for a heart procedure (minor it turned out) and the Chaplain talking and praying with me was what kept me calm before going to the Operating room.

Any advice would be excellent. God Bless!

Ginny

I do wish more Catholics were aware of the career opportunities in lay ecclesial health care ministry. Full-time well paying positions, and certainly spiritually rewarding as well.

 

[Michael_Mayo]

I live in Central Florida and I am very interested in becoming a Catholic Chaplain. I am currently a teacher but will be retiring in a few years and have been working on my MRS degree in Religious Studies. I would need part time or full time work and feel very called to this vocation.

I am visiting websites to get information but it does not seem like the CPE is offered in many places. Do you know why places to take this training are so scarce if the need is great? I would be willing to travel for a job but can’t for the training which I would do part time. I am in no hurry but I know that those in need may be. I was in the hospital for a heart procedure (minor it turned out) and the Chaplain talking and praying with me was what kept me calm before going to the Operating room.

Any advice would be excellent. God Bless!

Ginny

The availibility of CPE is a problem. And the there are other sorts of organizations that provided training and certification but you need to go with ACPE

acpe.edu/directoriesregions.html

or a center approved by the bishops

nacc.org/certification/cpeCenters.aspx

Blessings