When To Call

Chaplain Services are available at any time for patients, their families, and the hospital staff. Staff Chaplains have experience and training in the areas of pastoral care and counseling and are acquainted with clergy of various faiths as well as other sources of help when references are needed. The question of when to call a chaplain is often raised by hospital staff. 

Call a Chaplain when:

A patient asks to see the chaplain. Occasionally a staff member may hesitate to call the chaplain for fear the patient may take up his/her time with trivialities. What may seem trivial to a well person may not be trivial to a sick person.

Any referral is made by medical staff, hospital personnel, community clergyperson, etc.

A patient must undergo surgery or an unusually difficult variety of tests, the outcome of which may result in a questionable diagnosis/prognosis. A patient’s anxiety may be relieved if s/he can talk with a chaplain at either of these times. In some cases, the chaplain may feel it advisable and/or supportive to administer the sacraments.

A patient has a serious, painful, severely disabling, or incurable illness which may involve, by necessity, altering an earlier lifestyle.

A patient has a terminal illness. It isn’t the chaplain’s job to break the news, but s/he is the one who should be called in to help prepare the patient for life’s final crisis, death. Here is a situation where it is vital for the chaplain, the doctor, and the nursing staff working together to help the patient. Often the patient’s family is also very stressed. The chaplain is available to give them special attention and support, as well.

A patient’s relative dies. The chaplain should not be the one to break the news to the patient; that is a medical responsibility. The chaplain ought to be told of the crisis, so s/he can be available to comfort and counsel the patient.

The patient has personal problems requiring special attention. Often, patient’s recovery is impeded because s/he has unresolved guilt feelings, family troubles, or the problem of facing a physical disability. The chaplain does not have all the answers, but a good chaplain knows how to listen creatively.

A patient needs moral guidance or value clarification. Occasionally we encounter a patient who is troubled about some ethical or moral problem. Sometimes the chaplain can assist the patient in re-evaluation or clarification of these concerns.

A patient’s behavior indicates unresolved grief. Some people respond to the death of a loved one as if little or nothing has happened. But underlying grief may be doing damage. Most chaplains will recognize the symptoms of unresolved grief and help the patient accept his/her sorrow. Grief is involved with any deep sense of personal loss.

The patient is ambivalent about living and s/he needs to mobilize the life forces, a chaplain may be of real help in supporting and strengthening the patient’s will to live.

The patient’s attitude and expectations are poor or depressed. The chaplain may be able to help the patient re-evaluate his/her attitudes, life goals, and priorities. To the chaplain, physical disease and emotional suffering may have an individual message for each patient, yielding information about such personal issues as lifestyle, self-worth, and the true value of time. The knowledge gained by the patient through the understanding of this individual meaning may enable him/her to enrich the quality of his/her life.

The patient receives little or no visitation from persons during hospitalization.

To help the patient become related to a religious fellowship. Many have lost contact with their church or synagogue. The chaplain may be able to help the patient restore the relationship or establish a fresh one.

A patient is going to be discharged, the chaplain can render real service by helping prepare the patient to go back to his/her home and community.

Staff members need additional support after a difficult situation at work.