A hospital chaplain is a religious leader, such as a minister, priest, rabbi, or imam, who is charged with providing spiritual and pastoral care at a hospital, medical center, or healthcare facility.

As a member of the clergy, a hospital chaplain is a trained, certified, and endorsed representative of their faith group and is available to serve patients, families, and employees.

In healthcare, chaplains “journey with” patients and their loved ones to communicate empathy, understanding, and the presence of God.

Chaplains conduct spiritual assessments to serve patient needs and design and lead religious ceremonies, prayers, worship, and rites.

Chaplains also provide counseling to staff, patients, and family members, as well as pastoral care and spiritual advice to the institution. 

Chaplains provide support and prayer before a surgery or procedure. They assist with tough questions or help in clarifying meaning and life values. Chaplains can provide sacraments, Communion, anointing, or baptism.

If you or a loved one are lonely, depressed, suicidal, or anxious, they provide support. They assist with end-of-life decision-making or biomedical ethical issues. They will provide help with advanced directives .

Chaplains provide support during a life-altering medical event, such as incapacitation, disfigurement, or rehabilitation, in times of impending death, bereavement, or grief.

Chaplains will provide referrals to outside clergy of faith groups or other support groups. Moreover, the Chaplain assists with palliative care and Pastoral Care for Employees.

Pastoral care and confidential counseling are also available for hospital staff members who may have personal, relational, family, or job-related concerns.

Chaplains are available to provide services for staff on topics such as  Death and dying, Grief, Stress management, and Self-management.

• Center for Loss & Life Transition- www.centerforloss.com

• The Compassionate Friends- www.compassionatefriends.org

• Grief Recovery Institute- www.grief

• Military One Source - www.militaryonesource.mil

• DieSmart - diesmart.com/when-someone-dies/

• DieSmart - diesmart.com/sayinggoodbye/

• Education, Resources Activities -https://www.lifenethealth.org/healingthespirit

• The Grief Experience - http://www.caringinfo.org/i4a/pages/index.cfm?pageid=3364

BOOKS

Death and the Life After, by Billy Graham

Grief. Comfort for Those Who Grieve and Those Who Want to Help, by Haddon Robinson

How to Go On Living When Someone You Love Dies, by Therese A. Rando

I'm Grieving As Fast As I Can, by Linda Scones Feinberg

Living When a Loved One Has Died, by Earl A. Grollman Recovering From the Loss of a Child, by

Katherine Fair Donnelly Talking with Children about Death, by Maria Trozzi

The Grieving Child, by Helen Fitzgerald

Why do Bad Things Happen to Good People, by Melvin Tinker

Water Bugs and Dragonflies, by Doris Stickney

Gone from My Sight, by Barbara Karne