Space, Time and Shared Humanity
A Case Study Demonstrating a Chaplain’s Role in End-of-Life Care
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1558/hscc.34298Keywords:
case study, chaplain, end-of-life, multi-disciplinary, spiritual careAbstract
Care is often perceived as “doing something”; spiritual care also involves “being with” another person. This case, set in a hospice inpatient unit, highlights a relationship between being and doing, and the role of chaplains within multi-disciplinary teams, in palliative care. During ward round, a patient learned that he was dying. He appeared overwhelmed; he had a young family and much to organize. Following an informal assessment, the chaplain’s aim was to offer him time and the opportunity to talk. For both, this became a space of uncertainty and vulnerability. It represented a pivotal point in his care as he regained control. After this encounter, other members of the multidisciplinary team assisted him to do what he needed. He died peacefully. The case demonstrates the value of spiritual care in relationship with the support of physical, psychological and social needs of people at the end of life, and their families.
References
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AHPCC (2013) Guidelines for Hospice and Palliative Care Chaplaincy (3rd edn). Association of Hospice and Palliative Care Chaplains. Available at: www.ahpcc.org.uk/employment/guidelines/ (accessed 14 July 2017).
Bassett, L. (2016) “Spiritual Caregiving Silence: An Exploration of the Phenomenon and Its Value in End-of-Life Care”. Unpublished PhD thesis, Lancaster University. Available at: http://eprints.lancs.ac.uk/85911/1/2017bassettphd.pdf (accessed 14 July 2017).
Cambridge Dictionary (2017) “Intervene”. Cambridge University Press. Available at http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/intervene (accessed 14 July 2017).
Capretto, P. (2014) “Empathy and Silence in Pastoral Care for Traumatic Grief and Loss”. Journal of Religion and Health 54(1): 339–57. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10943-014-9904-5
Corrigan, K., and L. M. Harrington (2015) “Pseudo-Dionysius the Areopagite”. The Stanford Encyclopaedia of Philosophy (Spring), ed. E. N. Zalta. Available at: https://plato.stanford.edu/archives/spr2015/entries/pseudo-dionysius-areopagite/ (accessed 14 July 2017).
Edwards, A., N. Pang, V. Shiu and C. Chan (2010) “The Understanding of Spirituality and the Potential Role of Spiritual Care in End-of-Life and Palliative Care: A Meta-Study of Qualitative Research”. Palliative Medicine 24(8): 753–70. https://doi.org/10.1177/0269216310375860
Flyvbjerg, B. (2006) “Five Misunderstandings about Case-Study Research”. Qualitative Inquiry 12(2): 219–45. https://doi.org/10.1177/1077800405284363
Holloway, M., S. Adamson, W. McSherry and J. Swinton (2011) Spiritual Care at the End of Life: A Systematic Review of the Literature. London: Department of Health.
Julian of Norwich (2015) Revelations of Divine Love, trans. B. Windeatt. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Kelly, E. (2012) Personhood and Presence: Self as a Resource for Spiritual and Pastoral Care. London: T&T Clark.
Lunn, J. (2009) “Paying Attention: The Task of Attending in Spiritual Direction and Practical Theology”. Practical Theology 2(2): 219–29. https://doi.org/10.1558/prth.v2i2.219
Manzano, A., C. Swift, S. J. Closs and M. Briggs (2015) “Active Listening by Hospital Chaplaincy Volunteers: Benefits, Challenges and Good Practice”. Health and Social Care Chaplaincy 3(2): 201–221. https://doi.org/10.1558/hscc.v3i2.26065
Marie Curie Cancer Care (2003) Spiritual and Religious Care Competencies for Specialist Palliative Care. London: Marie Curie Cancer Care. Available at: http://www.ahpcc.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/spiritcomp.pdf (accessed 14 July 2017).
McCurdy, D. B., and G. Fitchett (2011) “Ethical Issues in Case Study Publication ‘Making Our Case(s)’ Ethically”. Journal of Health Care Chaplaincy 17(1–2): 55–74. https://doi.org/10.1080/08854726.2011.559855
NHS Scotland (2009) Spiritual Care and Chaplaincy. Edinburgh: The Scottish Government.
Nolan, S. (2012) Spiritual Care at the End of Life: The Chaplain as a “Hopeful Presence”. London: Jessica Kingsley Publishers.
—(forthcoming 2018) “Autoethnography as a Research Method for Chaplain Case Study”. In G. Fitchett and S. Nolan, Case Studies in Spiritual Care: Healthcare Chaplaincy Assessments, Interventions and Outcomes. London: Jessica Kingsley Publishers.
Oxford Dictionaries (2017) “Intervene”. Oxford University Press. Available at: https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/intervene (accessed 14 July 2017).
Sinclair, S., S. R. Bouchal, H. Chochinov, N. Hagen and S. McClement (2012) “Spiritual Care: How to Do It”. BMJ Supportive Palliative Care 2(4): 319–27. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjspcare-2011-000191
Speck, P. W. (1988) Being There: Pastoral Care in Time of Illness. London: SPCK.
Sulmasy, D. P. (2002) “A Biopsychosocial-Spiritual Model for the Care of Patients at the End of Life”. The Gerontologist 42(s3): 24–33. https://doi.org/10.1093/geront/42.suppl_3.24
Tornøe, K. A., L. J. Danbolt, K. Kvigne and V. Sørlie (2014) “The Power of Consoling Presence – Hospice Nurses’ Lived Experience with Spiritual and Existential Care for the Dying”. BMC Nursing 13(25): 1–8. https://doi.org/10.1186/1472-6955-13-25
Van Manen, M. (1990) Researching Lived Experience: Human Science for an Action Sensitive Pedagogy. Albany, NY: State University of New York Press.
AHPCC (2013) Guidelines for Hospice and Palliative Care Chaplaincy (3rd edn). Association of Hospice and Palliative Care Chaplains. Available at: www.ahpcc.org.uk/employment/guidelines/ (accessed 14 July 2017).
Bassett, L. (2016) “Spiritual Caregiving Silence: An Exploration of the Phenomenon and Its Value in End-of-Life Care”. Unpublished PhD thesis, Lancaster University. Available at: http://eprints.lancs.ac.uk/85911/1/2017bassettphd.pdf (accessed 14 July 2017).
Cambridge Dictionary (2017) “Intervene”. Cambridge University Press. Available at http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/intervene (accessed 14 July 2017).
Capretto, P. (2014) “Empathy and Silence in Pastoral Care for Traumatic Grief and Loss”. Journal of Religion and Health 54(1): 339–57. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10943-014-9904-5
Corrigan, K., and L. M. Harrington (2015) “Pseudo-Dionysius the Areopagite”. The Stanford Encyclopaedia of Philosophy (Spring), ed. E. N. Zalta. Available at: https://plato.stanford.edu/archives/spr2015/entries/pseudo-dionysius-areopagite/ (accessed 14 July 2017).
Edwards, A., N. Pang, V. Shiu and C. Chan (2010) “The Understanding of Spirituality and the Potential Role of Spiritual Care in End-of-Life and Palliative Care: A Meta-Study of Qualitative Research”. Palliative Medicine 24(8): 753–70. https://doi.org/10.1177/0269216310375860
Flyvbjerg, B. (2006) “Five Misunderstandings about Case-Study Research”. Qualitative Inquiry 12(2): 219–45. https://doi.org/10.1177/1077800405284363
Holloway, M., S. Adamson, W. McSherry and J. Swinton (2011) Spiritual Care at the End of Life: A Systematic Review of the Literature. London: Department of Health.
Julian of Norwich (2015) Revelations of Divine Love, trans. B. Windeatt. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Kelly, E. (2012) Personhood and Presence: Self as a Resource for Spiritual and Pastoral Care. London: T&T Clark.
Lunn, J. (2009) “Paying Attention: The Task of Attending in Spiritual Direction and Practical Theology”. Practical Theology 2(2): 219–29. https://doi.org/10.1558/prth.v2i2.219
Manzano, A., C. Swift, S. J. Closs and M. Briggs (2015) “Active Listening by Hospital Chaplaincy Volunteers: Benefits, Challenges and Good Practice”. Health and Social Care Chaplaincy 3(2): 201–221. https://doi.org/10.1558/hscc.v3i2.26065
Marie Curie Cancer Care (2003) Spiritual and Religious Care Competencies for Specialist Palliative Care. London: Marie Curie Cancer Care. Available at: http://www.ahpcc.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/spiritcomp.pdf (accessed 14 July 2017).
McCurdy, D. B., and G. Fitchett (2011) “Ethical Issues in Case Study Publication ‘Making Our Case(s)’ Ethically”. Journal of Health Care Chaplaincy 17(1–2): 55–74. https://doi.org/10.1080/08854726.2011.559855
NHS Scotland (2009) Spiritual Care and Chaplaincy. Edinburgh: The Scottish Government.
Nolan, S. (2012) Spiritual Care at the End of Life: The Chaplain as a “Hopeful Presence”. London: Jessica Kingsley Publishers.
—(forthcoming 2018) “Autoethnography as a Research Method for Chaplain Case Study”. In G. Fitchett and S. Nolan, Case Studies in Spiritual Care: Healthcare Chaplaincy Assessments, Interventions and Outcomes. London: Jessica Kingsley Publishers.
Oxford Dictionaries (2017) “Intervene”. Oxford University Press. Available at: https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/intervene (accessed 14 July 2017).
Sinclair, S., S. R. Bouchal, H. Chochinov, N. Hagen and S. McClement (2012) “Spiritual Care: How to Do It”. BMJ Supportive Palliative Care 2(4): 319–27. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjspcare-2011-000191
Speck, P. W. (1988) Being There: Pastoral Care in Time of Illness. London: SPCK.
Sulmasy, D. P. (2002) “A Biopsychosocial-Spiritual Model for the Care of Patients at the End of Life”. The Gerontologist 42(s3): 24–33. https://doi.org/10.1093/geront/42.suppl_3.24
Tornøe, K. A., L. J. Danbolt, K. Kvigne and V. Sørlie (2014) “The Power of Consoling Presence – Hospice Nurses’ Lived Experience with Spiritual and Existential Care for the Dying”. BMC Nursing 13(25): 1–8. https://doi.org/10.1186/1472-6955-13-25
Van Manen, M. (1990) Researching Lived Experience: Human Science for an Action Sensitive Pedagogy. Albany, NY: State University of New York Press.
Published
2018-04-12
Issue
Section
Case Studies
How to Cite
Bassett, L. (2018). Space, Time and Shared Humanity: A Case Study Demonstrating a Chaplain’s Role in End-of-Life Care. Health and Social Care Chaplaincy, 5(2), 194-208. https://doi.org/10.1558/hscc.34298
