Pastoral Ward Visit in the Context of Chaplaincy - Essay Example

Introduction Pastoral ward visits have turned out to be a common phenomenon in many health care centres and hospitals across the globe. Pastoral ward visits aids in offering support and needs to hospitalised patients, family members, and hospital staffs. The core role of the chaplaincy teams in their pastoral ward visits is to proffer religious and spiritual care to the hospitalised patients, health care staffs, and family’s members. In their pastoral ward visits, chaplains work jointly with other volunteers and health professionals found within hospital hospitals. In their pastoral ward visits, the chaplains offer confidential counselling, and spiritual support. The chaplains also act as listening ears and offer inspirational talk to those who are in need1. The study examines the importance and relevance of pastoral ward visits to patients, family members, and health care staffs. The essay will also make recommendations for future improvement. Methodology In the study, the researcher used Daily log to examine the time spent in attending one patients as well as the time spent by chaplains in the wards. To get direct feedbacks from patients, the researcher used questioner. The questioner was also used to examine what is considered a success in pastoral ward visit. On the other hand, the questioner was also used to evaluate the level and nature of training among chaplains as well as soliciting the ideas of improving the services offered by chaplains. Informal interview was also employed to access whether the pastoral ward meets patients’ religious and spiritual needs. Discussion In spite of promoting religious and spiritual messages, chaplains in their pastoral ward visits also offers support to patients in their hospital treatment. Chaplain works hand in hand with people who face death of their loved ones, parents who losses their children as well as patients who are facing their own demise. Additionally, in their ward visits, chaplains’ teams offer spiritual and inspirational support to hospital staff members. On the other hand, chaplains’ provides linkage between patients in hospital wards and others support teams in the society such as Non Governmental organisations, charity groups and well wishers. Additionally, the chaplains’ works towards ensuring spiritual, cultural, religion support to everyone who need these form of support. Due to the increased demand of the chaplain services in hospital wards, different religious ministries have focused on the recruitment and training of new chaplains. For example, in 2008, a considerable number of chaplains were recruited to offers chaplain services in different hospital in United Kingdom. From the research findings, pastoral wards visit take an average of five minutes for every patient in one day. Additionally, one ward takes an average of one hour. According to the interviewed pastors, it is sometimes complicated to measure the satisfaction level of pastoral ward visits. Most pastors are motivated by the need to helps people who are in need as stipulated in Mathew 25: 36.Ward visits is a God give privilege aimed at consoling and comforting people who are in dire need. According to the book of Mathew chapter twenty five verse thirty six, helping people who are in trouble is extremely significant and rewarding. Pastors measure their satisfaction by assessing the number of patients they attend as well as the productivity of their conversation with patients and family members. On the other hand, pastors also measure their satisfaction by examining the patient feedbacks as well as the time available for patient’s spiritual and religious care. Other chaplains feel satisfied by receiving referrals visits as well as in listening to patients’ needs2. Despite their significant and relevance in pastoral ward visits, time spent in hospital wards, training, as well as competences among chaplains do not represent the core measurement for success in hospital setting. However, according to the research findings, some small percentage of chaplains talked about the importance of hospital protocol training. On the other hand, the existing system of pastoral ward visit is very productive to chaplains, family members, hospital staffs, patients and the entire society. The system has granted chaplains the necessary power to control and manage their activities in hospital settings. A good number of patients have benefited from the existing system. However, to make their work more productive and effective, some pastors are recommending for advanced privacy when dealing with the needs of patients with hearing impairment. On the other hand, concrete partnership between churches, parishes, and chaplaincy is also crucial for quality service delivery. In an informal interview, most patients were very appreciative and happy with frequent pastoral wards visits. Most patients observed that, the presence of chaplain in wards offers reassuring and comforting environment to patients. In general therefore, chaplains’ services in hospital wards are extremely crucial and relevant in advancing the patients’ healing process. Chaplains offer a linkage between the hospital staffs, patients, and family members. On the other hand, pastors’ visits assist patients to contain and manage their health conditions. Proper management of patient spiritual needs also aids in promotion and improvement patient’s health3. Recommendation To facilitate quality pastoral services to inpatients, protocol training is extremely essential for chaplains who are in need. On the other hand, empathy training is also exceptionally essential for chaplain. Empathy training helps in advancing chaplain proficiency in handling patients’ needs. Additionally, chaplains should also advance their strength and spirit to enhance patient’s health and spiritual transformation in hospitals’ wards. Coordinated team work between patients, family members, health professionals, government and other charity agencies is also very crucial in advancing the level of pastoral services offered to hospitalised patients. Home-based visits are also essential and relevant for outpatients. Conclusion Chaplain ward visits have proved to be exceptionally effectual in improving patients’ health and spiritual conditions. Chaplain helps in solving the differences that may arise between hospital practitioners and patients regarding treatment and religious beliefs. On the other hand, chaplains aids in linking patients with other support agencies for financial, health, and spiritual support. Due to its advance benefits to patients and hospital professionals, pastoral wards visits ought to be encouraged in all health centres. To facilitate quality service delivery, chaplain protocol training is very relevant and crucial. Protocol training is as well necessary in offering chaplain with the relevant skills and knowledge required in offering spiritual services to patients. Bibliography A.Campell, A dictionary of pastoral care: Role of pastoral care, 2007, p. 47-67 J. Peter, and H cook, proposal for a world psychiatric association consensus or position statements on spirituality and religion in psychiatry. Religion and psychiatry, London: wiley Blackwell, 2010. Pp. 91-93 Y. Lartey, In living colour : An intercultural approach to pastoral care and counseling, New York, NY: Cassell, 2007, 321 Appendix Mathew 25: 34-38 (King James Version) “34. Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. 35. For I was an hundred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in. 36. Naked and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. 37. Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee a hundred, and fed [thee]? Or thirsty, and gave [thee] drink? 38. When saw we thee a stranger, and took [thee] in? Or naked, and clothed [thee]? And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent”. John 17:3-11 (King James Version) 3. “And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.4 I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do.5 And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was.6 I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world: thine they were, and thou gavest them me; and they have kept thy word.7 Now they have known that all things whatsoever thou hast given me are of thee.8 For I have given unto them the words which thou gavest me and they have received them, and have known surely that I came out from thee, and they have believed that thou didst send me. 9 I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine.10 And all mine are thine, and thine are mine; and I am glorified in them.11 And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me that they may be one, as we are”. Read More