 |
| (Saint Marianne Cope) |
Although the ranks of those who consider themselves non-religious are growing, many of these same folks embrace spirituality.
Along with this emphasis upon spirituality comes an expansion of hospital chaplaincy.
Laura Landro of The Wall
Street Journal reports that
nearly "70% of community hospitals
surveyed in 2011 provided chaplaincy services, up from 62% in 2003."
Because there is a growing awareness of the mind/body/spirit connection, hospital chaplains are being called upon to help with a wide variety of issues.
These include staff burnout, family bereavement, and palliative
care.
Chaplains not only call upon a higher power for help with holistic healing, but also help patients to "tap their inner resources."
Perhaps a chaplain's most important task is to simply listen, while providing "presence and companionship."
Resources
http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702304854804579236053907496062
Copyright December 9, 2013 by Linda Van Slyke All Rights Reserved
No comments:
Post a Comment