chaplains - each with their own set of beliefs and traditions - strive to understand the belief systems and traditions of others and be respectful of them .
In 2020 , the pandemic radically transformed the way chaplains performed their duties , requiring them to provide support and counsel by telephone . The intimate and personal nature of their work made this challenging , but they learned to improvise and adjust to the new dynamic . When the chaplains returned to the hospitals , they found that COVID-19 called for a new way of interacting with patients .
When a COVID patient is nearing end-of-life , family members and chaplains can be present but must remain in the hallway , separated from the patient by a glass door . “ We stand in
Dionne Blaha , a Palomar Health chaplain , provides spiritual support outside of a patient ’ s room
We are about connection : connecting each person with their own power , their own path and their best self .” front of the glass and hold them as they cry . It is quite stirring , actually ,” Dionne said . “ It is very meaningful work for us because we can be there for them in their time of deepest grief .”
Chaplains do not just attend to the spiritual needs of patients . They are also an important spiritual resource for staff . This has been especially important during the pandemic , when caring for COVID patients can be especially intense and emotionally draining . Chaplain Sharon Ackerman recalled an encounter with nurses that illustrated the emotional toll COVID was taking on staff . “ One day , as I was leaving a patient ’ s room , two nurses at a patient ’ s bedside asked me to pray for them ,” Sharon recalled . “ I told them , ‘ Absolutely . You are in my prayers every day .’ It was their way of reminding us not to forget them .”
Dionne hopes to change the perception of the chaplain ’ s role . She points out that they are perhaps most well-known for supporting patients and families through the stages of loss and death , but their emotional and spiritual support goes beyond that . “ We need to shift the perspective that chaplains are only called on to support the patients or for religion-based concerns ,” she stressed . “ We are also here to support their family members . We are here to support their caregivers . We are here to support the medical staff and we are here to support every single employee . We are here for everyone .”
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