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AbstractThis first-of-its-kind study explored the essential competencies healthcare chaplaincy hiring managers (HCHMs) sought for entry-level healthcare chaplains (HCCs). We conducted qualitative interviews with 16 HCHMs and using reflexive thematic analysis (RTA), developed nine key themes: interpersonal skills, teamwork, knowledge of family and group dynamics, understanding of the healthcare system, professionalism, proficiency in spiritual assessment, effective communication, commitment to lifelong learning, and knowledge of various religious and spiritual beliefs, extending beyond one’s own faith tradition. These themes reflected HCCs roles as healthcare professionals who contribute to patient care, interdisciplinary collaboration, and spiritual leadership responsibilities. The study underscored the need for chaplaincy education to integrate healthcare-specific coursework, interprofessional training, cultural and religious humility, and deeper knowledge of diverse belief systems. Developing and incorporating curriculum standards based on these themes could enhance the readiness of HCCs to deliver comprehensive care and meet the dynamic demands of diverse patient populations within today’s healthcare landscape. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractThis qualitative study explores how geriatric inpatients (n = 103) experience a one-on-one chaplaincy visit. Although some patients expressed neutral or negative feelings about the chaplaincy visit, the large majority spoke in a very positive way about the chaplain’s care. Using thematic analysis, we identified four main themes characterizing patients’ experiences with chaplaincy visits. (1) Patients experienced the chaplaincy visit as a place to tell personal stories and express their religious beliefs. (2) They had a safe and trusting relationship with the chaplain. (3) The interaction with the chaplain brought new perspectives. (4) After the visit, they felt satisfied, relieved, peaceful, and strong. This study demonstrates that the experiences of geriatric patients contribute to a better understanding of the value of chaplaincy care. Integrating patients’ perspectives on chaplaincy care is recommended, both in future research and healthcare chaplaincy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Western society is increasingly a spiritual society, but not so much a society that draws on clearly delineated religious or worldview pillars anymore. Within healthcare, there's a growing attention to the spiritual dimension of health and the collaborative spiritual care that is needed for person-centered care. This changing religious/worldview and healthcare landscape is influencing healthcare chaplaincy. In this case study in-depth interviews were conducted with a chaplaincy team within a large healthcare organization in The Netherlands. Dialogical Self Theory was used as the theoretical framework in the narrative analysis of these stories. This provided insights into how these chaplains negotiate their professional identity within a changing healthcare landscape. It is concluded that there are multiple and often contradictory and conflicting positions within and between chaplains and that it is a challenge for healthcare chaplains to integrate the "old" and "new" representations of chaplaincy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Manevi danışmanlık uygulamasının temelinin atıldığı Amerika Birleşik Devletleri’nde (ABD) yıllar içerisinde profesyonel ve sistemli bir manevi danışmanlık alanı teşekkül etmiştir. Ancak, Türkiye’de manevi danışmanlık yeni gelişen bir uygulama alanı olması nedeniyle henüz sistematik bir yapı oluşmamıştır. Dolayısıyla, ABD manevi danışmanlık teori ve pratiği Türkiye için önem arz etmektedir. Bu çalışmanın amacı, köklü bir geçmişi olan ABD örneğindeki Healthcare Chaplaincy uygulayıcılarının perspektiflerini ve uygulamalarını incelemek, böylece ABD uygulamalarından faydalanarak Türkiye'deki manevi danışmanlık alanına ışık tutmaktır. Araştırma, nitel bir yaklaşım kullanarak yürütülmüş olup yarı yapılandırılmış görüşme tekniğine dayanmaktadır. 20-27 Temmuz 2018 tarihlerinde Morristown Tıp Merkezi Healthcare Chaplaincy biriminde, 14 chaplain ile derinlemesine görüşme gerçekleştirilmiş ve içerik analizi yöntemi ile katılımcıların deneyimleri görünür kılınmaya çalışılmıştır. Araştırmada veri toplama aracı olarak yarı yapılandırılmış görüşme formu uygulanmıştır. Bu görüşme formunda öncelikle katılımcıların demografik bilgileri ve chaplain olarak ne kadar süredir görev yaptığı hakkında bilgi edinilmektedir. Ardından, katılımcıların Healthcare Chaplaincy hakkındaki görüşler, Healthcare Chaplaincy’deki uygulama deneyimi ve chaplainlerin Türkiye’deki manevi danışmanlara önerileri olmak üzere üç bölüm yer almaktadır. Elde ettiğimiz bulgular, katılımcıların deneyimlerinin literatür ile örtüştüğünü göstermektedir. Öne çıkan önemli bulgulardan biri, klinik manevi danışmanlık eğitiminin manevi danışmanlık uygulamasında en temel standartlardan biri olduğu gerçeğidir. ABD'de uygulanan bu klinik manevi danışmanlık eğitim sisteminin, manevi danışmanlık alanında Türkiye'ye örnek olarak alınabilecek dikkate değer model olduğunu belirtmek mümkündür.

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In the health-related and practical-theological debate, it is increasingly recognized that the core task of healthcare chaplaincy is spiritual care. There is a focus on the fundamental importance and necessity of spiritual accompaniment. However, concepts relating to this are only described in outline. Concepts that develop healthcare chaplaincy more precisely and present specific methods for the concrete "how" of spiritual care are still rare. This article outlines a basic dimension for chaplaincy and a methodology that is committed to the spiritual reality of people in secular modernity, beyond the internal religious culture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper reports the results of an exploratory online survey among German, Austrian, and Swiss hospital chaplains (n = 158, response rate 17%) to identify the ethical conflicts they encounter in their work. Respondents indicated that questions surrounding end-of-life care are predominant among the conflicts faced. Chaplains get involved with these conflicts most often through the patients themselves or through nursing staff. Most encounters occur during pastoral care visits rather than in structured forms of ethics consultation such as clinical ethics committees. The results add to the ongoing discussion of chaplains as agents in ethics consultation within healthcare systems as well as their specific role and contribution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article, based on twenty in-depth interviews, examines the experiences of Muslim interfaith spiritual care providers in US healthcare institutions. These Muslim chaplains represent a public face of a minority religious community; provide a ministry of presence or accompaniment for those in the healthcare institution; and exercise a new form of professionalized religious leadership in the Islamic tradition. The border between religious leader and spiritual caregiver, between imam and chaplain, is blurry, gendered, and contested. We outline how Muslim healthcare chaplains interpret their authority, function, and identity within a professional space defined by dominant American religious norms as well as by shifting standards for leadership within American Muslim communities. We argue that the Christian hegemony often masked by "spiritual care" discourse and educational practice impels Muslim chaplains to critically evaluate, recover, and adapt traditional sources integral to the professional development of contemporary American Muslim religious leaders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research on the multiple uses of religion/spirituality (R/S) in healthcare and on the practices of healthcare chaplaincy support creation of a middle-range, prescriptive theory for chaplaincy for patients who use R/S in their healthcare experiences. Religiously Informed, Relationally Skillful Chaplaincy Theory (RIRSCT) seeks to integrate research into practice in order to improve spiritual care and allow for testing RIRSCT. The components of RIRSCT are: patients whose religion is a significant part of their worldview often use R/S in healthcare to make meaning, to cope, and to make medical decisions; chaplains should be the members of the healthcare team to assess and address R/S; healthcare teams could provide more personalized treatment by integrating patients' R/S into the treatment plan, which could improve patient experience. This article describes the components of RIRSCT and provides examples of chaplaincy guided by RIRSCT. Selected research articles supporting theory components are reviewed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Both the healthcare and religious landscapes in the United States are rapidly changing. Despite the dynamic environment that spiritual care managers face, many do not receive management training prior to assuming their roles and many receive little or no training once they are in their roles. This study used mixed methods to examine the applicability of the National Center for Healthcare Leadership (NCHL) competency model to spiritual care manager roles. Interviews were conducted with 10 spiritual care managers across the country, using a Behavioral Event Interviewing (BEI) methodology. Interviews were quantitatively analyzed by using Natural Language Processing and qualitatively analyzed by thematic approach using NVIVO. The results found the EXECUTION domain to be the most discussed theme, followed by RELATIONS, TRANSFORMATION, and BOUNDARY SPANNING. Collectively these analyses suggest the NCHL Leadership Competency Model can provide a useful framework for understanding the roles and development needs of spiritual care managers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is an international movement towards integrated care. This systematized literature review studied healthcare chaplaincy spiritual care interventions that support adult mental health by integrating health and social care. Seventeen relevant studies were found. One analysed individual and family care in a general hospital. Twelve described one-to-one community-based interventions, of which ten concerned general practice healthcare centres. Four involved groups supporting mental health in hospitals or community-centres. Two studies used qualitative approaches, seven quantitative and eight mixed methods. The quality of evidence for the outcomes of interventions was examined. The review found that studies demonstrated shifts in healthcare professionals' working practices anticipated by Paterson (2014), from hospital towards community bases, from treatment of individuals towards empowering service users to self-manage their health, and in mental health contexts from treatment of individuals towards care in groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In several Dutch hospitals, healthcare chaplains provide care to accompanying persons at the accident and emergency (A&E) department, even though they have not been trained for such a dynamic, high-intensity environment. We therefore examined the competencies they feel they need in this setting. Interviews were conducted with 14 healthcare chaplains from nine hospitals, and with five A&E nurses from two hospitals. All respondents considered healthcare chaplaincy essential in the A&E department. Our findings support the need for psychosocial and communicative skills, knowledge of mourning processes, flexibility, sensitivity, and reflexivity. Additional competencies included sensitivity to existential concerns, practicing presence, a person-centered approach, medical knowledge, and letting go of a solution-oriented approach. The chaplains questioned the sufficiency of their leadership skills, pragmatism, and medical knowledge. To ensure their sustained availability for people in crisis, more systematic efforts are needed with regard to aftercare, evaluation, and self-care on the part of healthcare chaplains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The body of theoretical and empirical research led by chaplains and theologians between 2000 and 2018 is developing into a rich, diverse, and methodologically rigorous healthcare chaplaincy literature, which this review proposes to map. Online keyword and bibliographical searches and specialist recommendations yielded 199 relevant publications, which we analyzed in terms of methodology, topic, and results. On this basis, this article identifies and describes five key areas of the literature: chaplains' practices, spirituality, research, impact, and healthcare professionals' practices of spiritual care. The discussion further highlights that publications would benefit from greater conceptual clarity, common research standards, and more critical research designs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Healthcare chaplaincy in the National Health Service (NHS) has rapidly changed in the last few years. Research shows a decline of people belonging to traditional faith frameworks, and the non-religious patient demographic in the NHS has increased swiftly. This requires a different approach to healthcare chaplaincy. Where chaplaincy has originally been a Christian profession, this has expanded to a multi-faith context. Over the last five years, humanists with non-religious beliefs have entered the profession for the first time, creating multi-faith and belief teams. As this is a very new development, this article will focus on literature about humanists entering traditionally faith-based NHS chaplaincy teams within the last five years in England. This article addresses the question “what are the developments resulting from the inclusion of humanist chaplains in healthcare chaplaincy?” Topics arising from the literature are an acknowledgement of a changing healthcare chaplaincy field, worries about changing current practices and chaplaincy funding, the use of (Christian) language excluding non-religious people and challenging assumptions about those who identify as non-religious.

This study examined the demands on a hospital-based chaplaincy department; the time spent meeting those demands; and the barriers they experienced. It was conducted over a period of four days with a team of trained data collectors who gathered quantitative and qualitative data associated with nine core processes. While the results revealed a number of notable findings, some of which were consistent with previously published studies, there were a number of unique discoveries. For example, despite concealing their feelings from the public, many of the chaplains expressed feeling devalued and underappreciated based on a perceived disregard for their spiritual contributions to the care of patients, their families and friends, and staff members. This study benefits healthcare chaplaincy in that it draws attention to issues that can seriously impede quality of service and decrease operational efficiency. Opportunities for future research are also presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chaplains, like professionals in a range of industries, have long sought to maintain and build occupational power by articulating their professional mandate and advocating for their work. I describe how leaders of the Association of Professional Chaplains and its predecessor organizations used multiple strategies to articulate and re-articulate their professional mandate between 1940 and the present to become a companion profession, one that comes alongside another without seeking to challenge its jurisdiction. I find chaplains seeking to develop an economic base, aligning interests across distinct segments of the profession and creating new professional associations, lobbying for legislative support, and offering their services in institutional voids. They further adopted the language of healthcare around questions of identity, charting, and accreditation and, chaplains used not just the frameworks but the methods of healthcare—evidence based research—to try to demonstrate their value. This history can help chaplains and chaplaincy leaders today to form a more comprehensive sense of their history and think more strategically regarding how to make the case for their profession going forward. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: During the course of their disease, patients are, apart from suffering physical discomfort, also confronted with psychological, social, and spiritual challenges. However, healthcare professionals often lack the knowledge and skills to address the spiritual dimension and are in need of support for taking this responsibility. Spiritual caregivers are experts in spiritual care, but their contribution to the integration of this care by other healthcare professionals is largely unknown., Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate how Dutch spiritual caregivers view their role in increasing the integration of spiritual care in daily healthcare practice as provided by other healthcare professionals in the Netherlands, and how they address this role., Methods: An online survey was conducted from May until June 2021 among spiritual caregivers working in Dutch healthcare. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics., Results: The majority of the 174 respondents answered that they already fulfil a role in the integration of spiritual care by, for example, providing education, coaching on the job, or participating in multidisciplinary consultation. However, the majority of respondents experienced barriers to their contribution, such as confusion of terminology and use of language while collaborating with other healthcare professionals and reluctance to share information., Conclusions: While spiritual caregivers realise having the potential to make important contributions to the further process of integration of spiritual care into the daily practice of other healthcare professionals, some practices and perceptions, especially from within their own discipline, may hamper this.

Research and anecdotal evidence suggest that the relationship between healthcare chaplains and the Church is characterized by a deep sense of alienation in one direction and profound mistrust in the other. This is due, in part, to a lack of understanding about the work of chaplains. Recognizing a need for chaplains to explain their work, this article begins by describing research that investigated the support chaplains provided to bereaved parents. Contra to their poor expectations, I recount how, alongside the provision of liturgy and ritual, parents valued the chaplain’s pastoral presence. This is followed by an exploration of how, for some parents, such support could be the trigger for growing religious faith or spiritual awareness. Resonances are then drawn between the nature of support provided and descriptions of apologetics. The article concludes by arguing for greater dialogue between chaplains and the wider Church, suggesting a fruitful metaphor may be to view chaplains as embedded apologists. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Identifying patients' expectations of and need for healthcare chaplaincy is important in terms of appropriate intervention. Therefore, a sample of 612 patients from 32 general hospitals and psychiatric clinics in the German part of Switzerland was surveyed about their expectations of chaplaincy service. A principal component factor analysis of participants' ratings found that the survey items fell into three distinct categories. These were the need for (1) emotional support, (2) help to cope with illness/disease, and (3) religious/spiritual assistance. Among the expectations, the need for emotional support was rated most important, followed by help to cope and, lastly, religious/spiritual assistance. Gender, religious denomination, general religiosity, and subjective health status significantly influenced these expectations. The results showed that fulfilling patients' expectations increases their overall satisfaction with, and the importance they accord to the chaplain's visit, as well as their confidence in the chaplain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Healthcare chaplaincy is going through a period of considerable challenge amidst current financial austerity within public sector provision. However, such cutbacks have sharpened the need for chaplains not only to show that their practice enhances the wellbeing of service users, their carers, staff and organisations but that their contribution is unique and value for the tax payers’ money. This article seeks to enable readers to understand more fully the different roles healthcare chaplain play as an increasingly integrated aspect of healthcare provision. It also describes the need for chaplains to be proficient in the language of healthcare culture as well as pastoral theology and why reflective practice is key to person-centred spiritual care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article outlines the results of a scoping exercise performed utilising an on-line questionnaire to gauge the breadth of reflective practice activity within the healthcare chaplaincy community in Scotland (those working 18.5 hours or more per week). The findings are thematically explored and some proposals for training, education and its evaluation are made. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article focuses on both methods and outcomes of a piece of participatory research. The intention was to combine an educational experience with the production of useful research. Here we see that a group approach to research might serve chaplaincy well. The combination of perspectives and skills is greater than the parts. This article shows that reflection and discussion can produce "new horizons". We have used the gadamerian stages of the hermeneutic cycle as headings for the presentation of the data. We have also identified the findings before showing the workings. This deviates from the standard presentation of research but we think that it allows the research story and the workings to be exposed more helpfully. Our conclusions show that adaptation both internally and externally are required in old age and a major task for chaplaincy is to help in the adaptive process through focussing on the underlying meaning to a life's experience.http://bkstrm.epnet.com:8080/ai/images/save.gif [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This review article provides insight into the evolution of professional healthcare chaplaincy. It identifies key historical developments identifying the training, qualifications, and competencies of chaplains. Consideration is given to both the unique character of the pastoral role in healthcare as well as the contribution of chaplains to the interdisciplinary care of patients and families. The article points to the emerging need for chaplains to pursue research within the clinical context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This document discusses training for hospital and healthcare chaplains in the light of different UK standards applied by various interested parties. It considers the different standards and concludes that there is no single applied standard for training for National Health Service (NHS) hospital chaplains across the UK. Those models that do exist take differing approaches, with some basing their systems on normatively defined views of what a chaplain needs to be effective on functional (NHS managerial) or interpersonal (clinical pastoral) levels, while others take a more hybrid approach blending these approaches with doctrinal concerns. Equally, there is wide variation across different denominations and employers. This document seeks to identify where there is common ground on domains of competence for chaplaincy training and suggest some progress for training which fits into NHS structures and systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Healthcare chaplaincy in the National Health Service (NHS) has rapidly changed in the last few years. Research shows a decline of people belonging to traditional faith frameworks, and the non-religious patient demographic in the NHS has increased swiftly. This requires a different approach to healthcare chaplaincy. Where chaplaincy has originally been a Christian profession, this has expanded to a multi-faith context. Over the last five years, humanists with non-religious beliefs have entered the profession for the first time, creating multi-faith and belief teams. As this is a very new development, this article will focus on literature about humanists entering traditionally faith-based NHS chaplaincy teams within the last five years in England. This article addresses the question "what are the developments resulting from the inclusion of humanist chaplains in healthcare chaplaincy?" Topics arising from the literature are an acknowledgement of a changing healthcare chaplaincy field, worries about changing current practices and chaplaincy funding, the use of (Christian) language excluding non-religious people and challenging assumptions about those who identify as non-religious. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drawing from both the qualitative free-text responses and quantitative responses to an international survey of 1657 chaplains serving during the SARS-Cov-19 pandemic, we explore chaplains' emotional responses to the pandemic and how emotion connects to self-care. This paper reports on the modes of self-care practiced by chaplains, including modes reported as unavailable due to pandemic restrictions. Lastly, we explore how effective spiritual care leadership may mediate chaplain emotions and ultimately chaplain self-care.

Shifts in chaplain requests from patients and families and lack of engagement by staff in now traditional support forms in the COVID-19 context suggest that new insights and resourcing are needed. This exploratory translational study suggests that the evolutionary psychology of R. I. M. Dunbar and the social neuroscience of J. T. Cacioppo, his collaborators, and successors and their concerns for human loneliness have potential for use in development of effective healthcare chaplaincy practice in the COVID-19 context.