With years of experience, it is crucial for a chaplain to reach the
bedside and engage in conversation with the patient and their family
to provide comfort. This is where the chaplain's skills truly shine,
providing an additional layer of care.
I once had a patient in our care who appeared very distraught and was
unwilling to engage with any of the other disciplines who came to visit
him. One day, making a gentle presence, he welcomed me into his room
and offered me a bottle of water. While sitting at his bedside, he
expressed a deep yearning to see his children, whom he hadn't seen in
seven years due to a bitter divorce. He said, "Chaplain, if you can make
that happen, I would be grateful to God." He provided me with phone
numbers so I could try to contact his children.
I called his ex-wife, who needed to verify that he was in our care.
After confirming that information, I mentioned that he would love to
see his children without going into too much detail. That night, he saw
all his children. A couple of days later, he passed away.
After nearly 14 years of visiting patients in various settings, I have
found that many bedside interactions offer a measure of comfort. While
there are occasional instances when this does not happen, most bedside
conversations provide extraordinary comfort and care to both patients
and their families. This ability to connect at the bedside is the
ultimate skill set of a chaplain. When a chaplain can get through the
door and reach the bedside for conversation, profound care can take place.
