Healthcare chaplaincy seeks to address spiritual suffering that can be a result of a health crisis experienced by an individual or their loved one. A crisis caused by a serious illness, death and other stressful situations can challenge a person’s entire belief system and view of life.
These experiences can alter our sense of connection with ourselves as well as others. Serious illness can also trigger thoughts about own mortality.
The professional chaplain is the spiritual care specialist, conducting the assessment and addressing the spiritual aspects of the care plan.
Screening is designed to evaluate the presence or absence of spiritual needs and spiritual distress.
The spiritual assessment explores spiritual concerns including, but not limited to:
a. Sources of spiritual strength and support
b. Existential concerns such as lack of meaning, questions about one’s own existence, and questions of meaning and suffering
c. Concerns about relationship to God, the Holy, or deity, such as anger or abandonment
d. Struggles related to loss of faith, community of faith, or spiritual practices
e. Cultural norms and preferences that impact belief systems and spiritual practices
f. Hopes, values and fears, meaning, and purpose
g. Concerns about quality of life
h. Concerns or fear of death and dying and beliefs about afterlife
i. Spiritual practices
j. Concerns about relationships
k. Life completion tasks, grief, and bereavement
Endorsements
NAHCA is pleased to be the endorsing body for Hindu candidates applying to become Board Certified Chaplains through the Association of Professional Chaplains (APC) and to become Certified Educator Candidates through the Association of Clinical Pastoral Education (APCE).
These experiences can alter our sense of connection with ourselves as well as others. Serious illness can also trigger thoughts about own mortality.
The professional chaplain is the spiritual care specialist, conducting the assessment and addressing the spiritual aspects of the care plan.
Screening is designed to evaluate the presence or absence of spiritual needs and spiritual distress.
The spiritual assessment explores spiritual concerns including, but not limited to:
a. Sources of spiritual strength and support
b. Existential concerns such as lack of meaning, questions about one’s own existence, and questions of meaning and suffering
c. Concerns about relationship to God, the Holy, or deity, such as anger or abandonment
d. Struggles related to loss of faith, community of faith, or spiritual practices
e. Cultural norms and preferences that impact belief systems and spiritual practices
f. Hopes, values and fears, meaning, and purpose
g. Concerns about quality of life
h. Concerns or fear of death and dying and beliefs about afterlife
i. Spiritual practices
j. Concerns about relationships
k. Life completion tasks, grief, and bereavement
Endorsements
NAHCA is pleased to be the endorsing body for Hindu candidates applying to become Board Certified Chaplains through the Association of Professional Chaplains (APC) and to become Certified Educator Candidates through the Association of Clinical Pastoral Education (APCE).
NAHCA members are invited to join the NAHCA Healthcare Forum facilitated by Ms. Shama Mehta. This is a space to share experiences and best practices within healthcare chaplaincy. To join: email [email protected] with the header NAHCA Healthcare Forum.
