Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Spiritual Care: The Role of Health Care Chaplaincy

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Spirituality, Religiousness and Health

Part of the book series: Religion, Spirituality and Health: A Social Scientific Approach ((RELSPHE,volume 4))

  • 893 Accesses

Abstract

Professional chaplains play an important role in addressing the religious and spiritual needs of patients in healthcare. This chapter offers an overview of their work worldwide with attention to variations associated with national context. A description is given of, among others, the contemporary context in which chaplains operate and emerging issues for the future; models for spiritual care in healthcare including the distinction between spiritual care generalists and specialists; chaplains’ training, competencies, certification and registration; chaplains’ ethical practice, scope of practice and quality indicators; screening and assessment tools, interventions and outcomes; and finally research into chaplaincy. At the end of the chapter resources are offered for more detailed descriptions of spiritual care in various national contexts.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 129.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • Anandarajah, G., & Hight, E. (2001). Spirituality and medical practice: Using the HOPE questions as a practical tool for spiritual assessment. American Family Physician, 63, 81–89.

    Google Scholar 

  • Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2011). Census-factsheet-religion. http://www.abs.gov.au/census. Accessed 1 June 2017.

  • Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care. (2011). Patient-centred care: Improving quality and safety through partnerships with patients and consumers. Sydney: ACSQHC.

    Google Scholar 

  • Balboni, M. J., Sullivan, A., Enzinger, A. C., et al. (2017). U.S. clergy religious values and relationships to end-of-life discussions and care. Journal of Pain and Symptom Management, 53(6), 999–1009. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2016.12.346.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bay, P. S., Beckman, D., Trippi, J., Gunderman, R., & Terry, C. (2008). The effect of pastoral care services on anxiety, depression, hope, religious coping, and religious problem solving styles: A randomized controlled study. Journal of Religion and Health, 47, 57–69.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Benito, E., Oliver, A., Galiana, L., Barreto, P., Pascual, A., Gomis, C., & Barbero, J. (2014). Development and validation of a new tool for the assessment and spiritual care of palliative care patients. Journal of Pain and Symptom Management, 47(6), 1008–1018.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Boscaglia, N., Clarke, D. M., Jobling, T. W., & Quinn, M. A. (2005). The contribution of spirituality and spiritual coping to anxiety and depression in women with a recent diagnosis of gynecological cancer. International Journal of Gynecological Cancer, 15(5), 755–761.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • British Religion In Numbers. (2015). Religion and the British Social Attitudes 2015 Survey. From British Religion in Numbers. http://www.brin.ac.uk/figures/affiliation-and-attendance-from-1983/. Accessed 1 June 2017.

  • Brown-Haithco, R. C. (2012). Spiritual care of staff. In S. B. Roberts (Ed.), Professional spiritual & pastoral care: A practical clergy and chaplain’s handbook (pp. 209–218). Woodstock: SkyLight Paths.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bunniss, S., Mowat, H., & Snowden, A. (2013). Community chaplaincy listening: Practical theology in action. Scottish Journal of Healthcare Chaplaincy, 16(Special), 42–51.

    Google Scholar 

  • Büssing, A., Zhai, X. F., Peng, W. B., & Ling, C. Q. (2013). Psychosocial and spiritual needs of patients with chronic diseases: Validation of the Chinese version of the spiritual needs questionnaire. Journal of Integrative Medicine, 11(2), 106–115. https://doi.org/10.3736/jintegrmed2013020.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cadge, W. (2012). Paging god: Religion in the halls of medicine. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Canada, A. L., Fitchett, G., Murphy, P. E., Stein, K., Portier, K., Crammer, C., & Peterman, A. H. (2013). Racial/ethnic differences in spiritual well-being among cancer survivors. Journal of Behavioral Medicine, 36(5), 441–453. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10865-012-9439-8.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Carey, L. B., & Cohen, J. (2015). The utility of the WHO ICD-10-AM pastoral intervention codings within religious, pastoral and spiritual care research. Journal of Religion and Health, 54(5), 1772–1787.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chan, M. (2013). Maintaining the momentum for better health globally – Are innovation and technology game-changers for the future? Paper presented at the 38th World Hospital Congress, Oslo, Norway.

    Google Scholar 

  • Clarke, J. (2013). Spiritual care in everyday nursing practice: A new approach. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Cooper, R. S. (2011). Case study of a chaplain’s spiritual care for a patient with advanced metastatic breast cancer. Journal of Health Care Chaplaincy, 17(1), 19–37.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cooper, D., Aherns, M., & Pereira, J. (2010). The competencies required by professional hospice palliative care spiritual care providers. Journal of Palliative Medicine, 13, 869–875.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Derrickson, P. E. (1995). Screening patients for pastoral care: A preliminary report. The Caregiver Journal, 11(2), 14–18.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ehman, J. W., Ott, B. B., Short, T. H., Ciampa, R. C., & Hansen-Flaschen, J. (1999). Do patients want physicians to inquire about their spiritual or religious beliefs if they become gravely ill? Archives of Internal Medicine, 159, 1803–1806.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Firth-Cozens, J., & Cornwell, J. (2009). The point of care: Enabling compassionate care in acute hospital settings. https://www.kingsfund.org.uk/sites/default/files/field/field_publication_file/poc-enabling-compassionate-care-hospital-settings-apr09.pdf. Accessed on 27 Aug 2018.

  • Fitchett, G. (2012). Next steps for spiritual assessment in health care. In M. Cobb, C. Puchalski, & B. Rumbold (Eds.), Oxford textbook of spirituality in healthcare (pp. 299–305). Oxford: Oxford University Press.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Fitchett, G., & Grossoehme, D. (2012). Healthcare chaplaincy as a research-informed profession. In S. B. Roberts (Ed.), Professional spiritual & pastoral care: A practical clergy and chaplain’s handbook (pp. 387–406). Woodstock: SkyLight Paths.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fitchett, G., & Nolan, S. (2015). Spiritual care in practice: Case studies in healthcare chaplaincy. London: Jessica Kingsley.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fitchett, G., & Risk, J. (2009). Screening for spiritual struggle. Journal of Pastoral Care and Counselling, 63(1–2), 1–12.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fitchett, G., Meyer, P., & Burton, L. A. (2000). Spiritual care: Who requests it? Who needs it? Journal of Pastoral Care, 54(2), 173–186.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fitchett, G., Tartaglia, A., Massey, K., Jackson-Jordon, B., & Derrickson, P. E. (2015). Education for professional chaplains: Should certification competencies shape curriculum? Journal of Health Care Chaplaincy, 21, 151–164.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ford, T., & Tartaglia, A. (2006). The development, status, and future of healthcare chaplaincy. Southern Medical Journal, 99, 675–679.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fuller, R. C. (2001). Spiritual but not religious: Understanding unchurched America. Oxford: Oxford University.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Galek, K., Flannelly, K. J., Jankowski, K. R. B., & Handzo, G. F. (2011). A methodological analysis of chaplaincy research: 2000–2009. Journal of Health Care Chaplaincy, 17(3–4), 126–145.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gibbons, G., Retsas, A., & Pinikahaha, J. (1999). Describing what chaplains do in hospitals. Journal of Pastoral Care, 53(2), 201–207.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Goldstein, H. R., Marin, D., & Umpierre, M. (2011). Chaplains and access to medical records. Journal of Health Care Chaplaincy, 17(3–4), 162–168.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Goodhead, A., Speck, P., & Selman, L. (2016). ‘I think you just learnt as you went along’ – Community clergy’s experiences of and attitudes towards caring for dying people: A pilot study. Palliative Medicine, 30(7), 674–683. https://doi.org/10.1177/0269216315625860.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gordon, T., Kelly, E., & Mitchell, D. (2011). Spiritual care for healthcare professionals: Reflecting on clinical practice. London/New York: Radcliffe.

    Google Scholar 

  • Guckenberger, D. E. (1988). The use of volunteer community clergy as hospital pastoral care staff. Journal of Health Care Chaplaincy, 1, 91–98.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Handzo, G. (2012). The process of spiritual/pastoral care: A general theory for providing spiritual/pastoral care using palliative care as a paradigm. In S. B. Roberts (Ed.), Professional spiritual & pastoral care: A practical clergy and chaplain’s handbook (pp. 21–41). Woodstock: SkyLight Paths.

    Google Scholar 

  • Handzo, G., & Koenig, H. G. (2004). Spiritual care: Whose job is it anyway? Southern Medical Journal, 97, 1242–1244.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Handzo GF, Nolan S (in press). Outcomes in health and social care chaplaincy: Core business or problematic necessity? In Kelly E, Swinton J (eds) Re-membering the soul of healthcare; critical reflections on the future of health and social care chaplaincy. London, Jessica Kingsley Publishers.

    Google Scholar 

  • Handzo, G. F., Flannelly, K. J., Kudler, T., et al. (2008). What do chaplains really do? II. Interventions in the New York chaplaincy study. Journal of Health Care Chaplaincy, 14(1), 39–56.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Handzo, G., Cobb, M., Holmes, C., Kelly, E., & Sinclair, S. (2014). Outcomes for professional health care chaplaincy: An international call to action. Journal of Health Care Chaplaincy, 20(2), 43–53.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hays, J. C., Wood, L., Steinhauser, K., Olson, M. K., Lindquist, J. H., & Tulsky, J. A. (2011). Clergy-laity support and patients’ mood during serious illness: A cross-sectional epidemiologic study. Palliative & Supportive Care, 9, 273–280.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • HCCN. (2016). What is quality spiritual care in health care and how do you measure it?http://www.healthcarechaplaincy.org/docs/research/quality_indicators_document_2_17_16.pdf. Accessed 17 Apr 2017.

  • Heelas, P., & Woodhead, L. (2005). The spiritual revolution: Why religion is giving way to spirituality. Oxford: Blackwell.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hill, P. C., Pargament, K. I., Hood, R. W., et al. (2000). Conceptualizing religion and spirituality: Points of commonality, points of departure. Journal for the Theory of Social Behavior, 30(1), 51–77.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Holloway, M., Adamson, S., McSherry, W., & Swinton, J. (2011). Spiritual care at the end of life: A systematic review of the literature. London: Department of Health.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jankowski, K. R., Handzo, G. F., & Flannelly, K. J. (2011). Testing the efficacy of chaplaincy care. Journal of Health Care Chaplaincy, 17, 100–125.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kalish, N. (2012). Evidence-based spiritual care: A literature review. Current Opinion in Supportive and Palliative Care, 6(2), 242–246. https://doi.org/10.1097/SPC.0b013e328353811c.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kang, J., Shin, D. W., Choi, J. Y., et al. (2012). Addressing the religious and spiritual needs of dying patients by healthcare staff in Korea: Patient perspectives in a multi-religious Asian country. Psychooncology, 21(4), 374–381. https://doi.org/10.1002/pon.1901.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kelly, E. R. (2007). Marking short lives: Constructing and sharing rituals following pregnancy loss. Bern: Peter Lang Publishing.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kevern, P., & Hill, L. (2015). ‘Chaplains for well-being’ in primary care: Analysis of the results of a retrospective study. Primary Health Care Research & Development, 16(1), 87–99.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • King, S. D. W. (2012). Facing fears and counting blessings: A case study of a chaplain’s faithful companioning a cancer patient. Journal of Health Care Chaplaincy, 18(1–2), 3–22.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • King, S. D., Fitchett, G., Murphy, P. E., Pargament, K. I., Harrison, D. A., & Loggers, E. T. (2017). Determining best methods to screen for religious/spiritual distress. Supportive Care in Cancer, 25(2), 471–479. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-016-3425-6.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Koenig, H. (2014). The spiritual care team: Enabling the practice of whole person medicine. Religion, 5, 1161–1174.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lee, S. J. (2002). In a secular spirit: Strategies of clinical pastoral education. Health Care Analysis, 10, 339–356.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lucchetti, G., Bassi, R. M., & Lucchetti, A. L. (2013). Taking spiritual history in clinical practice: A systematic review of instruments. Explore (New York, N.Y.), 9(3), 159–170.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • MacLean, C. D., Susi, B., Phifer, N., et al. (2003). Patient preference for physician discussion and practice of spirituality. Journal of General Internal Medicine, 18, 38–43.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Marin, D. B., Sharma, V., Sosunov, E., Egorova, N., Goldstein, R., & Handzo, G. F. (2015). Relationship between chaplain visits and patient satisfaction. Journal of Health Care Chaplaincy, 21(1), 14–24.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Martinuz, M., Dürst, A. V., Faouzi, M., et al. (2013). Do you want some spiritual support? Different rates of positive response to chaplains’ versus nurses’ offer. The Journal of Pastoral Care & Counseling, 67(3–4), 3.

    Google Scholar 

  • Massey, K., Barnes, M. J., Villines, D., et al. (2015). What do I do? Developing a taxonomy of chaplaincy activities and interventions for spiritual care in intensive care unit palliative care. BMC Palliative Care, 14, 10.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • MCCC. (2003). Spiritual and religious care competencies for specialist palliative care. http://www.ahpcc.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/spiritcomp.pdf. Accessed 17 Apr 2017.

  • McSherry, W., & Ross, L. (2010). Spiritual assessment in healthcare practice. Keswick Cumbria: M&K Publishing.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mercadante, L. A. (2014). Belief without borders: Inside the minds of the spiritual but not religious. New York: Oxford University Press.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Monod, S., Martin, E., Spencer, B., Rochat, E., & Büla, C. (2012). Validation of the spiritual distress assessment tool in older hospitalized patients. BMC Geriatrics, 12(1), 13.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Morgan, M. (2015). Review of literature. Melbourne: Spiritual Health Victoria. http://www.spiritualhealth.org.au/research. Accessed 17 Apr 2017.

  • Mowat, H. (2008). The potential for efficacy of healthcare chaplaincy and spiritual care provision in the NHS (UK): A scoping review of recent research. Aberdeen: Mowat Research Ltd. http://www.ukbhc.org.uk/sites/default/files/The%20potential%20for%20effiicacy%20for%20healthcare%20chaplaincy.pdf. Accessed 27 Aug 2018.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mowat, H., & Swinton, J. (2007). What do chaplains do? The role of the chaplain in meeting the spiritual needs of patients (2nd ed.). Aberdeen: Mowat Research Limited.

    Google Scholar 

  • NICE. (2004). Guidance on cancer services: Improving supportive and palliative care for adults with cancer. London: National Institute for Clinical Excellence. http://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/csg4/resources/improving-supportive-and-palliative-care-for-adults-with-cancer-773375005. Accessed 17 Apr 2017.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nolan, S. (2012). Spiritual care at the end of life: The chaplain as a ‘hopeful presence’. London: Jessica Kingsley Publishers.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nolan, S. (2015). Healthcare chaplains responding to change: Embracing outcomes or reaffirming relationships? Health & Social Care Chaplaincy, 3(2), 93–109.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nolan, S. (2016). He needs to talk!’ – A chaplain’s case study of non-religious spiritual care. Journal of Health Care Chaplaincy, 22(1), 1–16.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pargament, K. I., Koenig, H. G., Tarakeshwar, N., & Hahn, J. (2004). Religious coping methods as predictors of psychological, physical and spiritual outcomes among medically ill elderly patients: A two-year longitudinal study. Journal of Health Psychology, 9(6), 713–730.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Partridge, C. (2005). The re-enchantment of the west: Alternative spiritualities, sacralization, popular culture and occulture. London: T&T Clark.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pesut, B., Sinclair, S., Fitchett, G., Greig, M., & Koss, S. E. (2016). Health care chaplaincy: A scoping review of the evidence 2009–2014. Journal of Health Care Chaplaincy, 22(2), 67–84.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pew Research Center. (2015). America’s changing religious landscape. http://www.pewresearch.org. Accessed 27 Aug 2018.

  • Piderman, K. M., Marek, D. V., Jenkins, S. M., et al. (2010). Predicting patients’ expectations of hospital chaplains: A multisite survey. Mayo Clinic Proceedings, 85(11), 1002–1010.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Piderman, K. M., Breitkopf, C. R., Jenkins, S. M., et al. (2015). The feasibility and educational value of hear my voice, a chaplain-led spiritual life review process for patients with brain cancers and progressive neurologic conditions. Journal of Cancer Education, 30(2), 209–212. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13187-014-0686-y.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Post, S. G., Puchalski, C. M., & Larson, D. B. (2000). Physicians and patient spirituality: Professional boundaries, competency, and ethics. Annals of Internal Medicine, 132, 578–583.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Proserpio, T., Piccinelli, C., & Clerici, C. A. (2011). Pastoral care in hospitals: A literature review. Tumori, 97(5), 666–671. https://doi.org/10.1700/989.10729.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Puchalski, C., & Ferrell, B. (2011). Making health care whole: Integrating spirituality into patient care. West Conshohocken: Templeton Foundation Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Puchalski, C. M., & Romer, A. L. (2000). Taking a spiritual history allows clinicians to understand patients more fully. Journal of Palliative Medicine, 3, 129–137.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Puchalski, C. M., Ferrell, B., Virani, R., et al. (2009). Improving the quality of spiritual care as a dimension of palliative care: The report of the consensus conference. Journal of Palliative Medicine, 12, 885–904.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Puchalski, C. M., Vitillo, R., Hull, S., & Reller, N. (2014). Impoving the spiritual dimension of whole person care: Reaching national and international consensus. Journal of Palliative Medicine, 17(6), 642–656.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ragsdale, J. R., Hegner, M. A., Mueller, M., & Davies, S. (2014). Identifying religious and/or spiritual perspectives of adolescents and young adults receiving blood and marrow transplants: A prospective qualitative study. Biology of Blood and Marrow Transplantation, 20(8), 1242–1247. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbmt.2014.04.013.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ramirez, S. P., Macêdo, D. S., & Sales, P. M. (2012). The relationship between religious coping, psychological distress and quality of life in hemodialysis patients. Journal of Psychosomatic Research, 72(2), 129–135. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpsychores.2011.11.012.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Reich, M., Javadi, D., & Ghaffar, A. (2016). Introduction to the special issue on “effective leadership for health systems”. Health Systems and Reform, 2(3), 171–175.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Risk, J. L. (2013). Building a new life: A chaplain’s theory based case study of chronic illness. Journal of Health Care Chaplaincy, 19, 81–98.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schultz, M., Lulav-Grinwald, D., & Bar-Sela, G. (2014). Cultural differences in spiritual care: Findings of an Israeli oncologic questionnaire examining patient interest in spiritual care. BMC Palliative Care, 13(1), 19.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Selman, L., Siegert, R. J., Higginson, et al. (2012). The “Spirit 8” successfully captured spiritual well-being in African palliative care: Factor and Rasch analysis. Journal of Clinical Epidemiology, 65(4), 434–443.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shih, F. J., Lin, H. R., Gau, M. L., et al. (2009). Spiritual needs of Taiwan’s older patients with terminal cancer. Oncology Nursing Forum, 36(1), E31–E38. https://doi.org/10.1188/09.ONF.E31-E38.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Snowden, A., & Telfer, I. (2017). Patient reported outcome measure of spiritual care as delivered by chaplains. Journal of Health Care Chaplaincy, 23(4), 131–155. https://doi.org/10.1080/08854726.2017.1279935.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Snowden, A., Fitchett, G., & Grossoehme, D. H. (2017). International study of chaplains’ attitudes about research. Journal of Health Care Chaplaincy, 23(1), 34–43. https://doi.org/10.1080/08854726.2016.1250556.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Swift, C. (2014). Hospital chaplaincy in the twenty-first century, 2nd edition: The crisis of spiritual care on the NHS explorations in practical, pastoral and empirical theology. New York: Ashgate Publishing.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tacey, D. (2012). Contemporary spirituality. In M. Cobb, C. M. Puchalski, & R. Rumbold (Eds.), The Oxford textbook of spirituality in healthcare (pp. 473–479). New York: Oxford University Press.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Tartaglia, A., Dodd-McCue, D., Ford, T., Demm, C., & Hassell, A. (2016). Chaplain documentation and the electronic medical record: A survey of ACPE residency programs. Journal of Health Care Chaplaincy, 22(2), 41–53. https://doi.org/10.1080/08854726.2015.1071544.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Thiel, M. M., & Robinson, M. R. (1997). Physicians’ collaboration with chaplains: Difficulties and benefits. The Journal of Clinical Ethics, 8, 94–103.

    Google Scholar 

  • Thuné-Boyle, I. C., Stygall, J., Keshtgar, M. R., Davidson, T. I., & Newman, S. P. (2011). Religious coping strategies in patients diagnosed with breast cancer in the UK. Psychooncology, 20(7), 771–782. https://doi.org/10.1002/pon.1784.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • UKBHC. (2015). Healthcare chaplaincy bands and duties framework (revised). Cambridge: Board of Healthcare Chaplaincy.

    Google Scholar 

  • VandeCreek, L., & Lucas, A. M. (Eds.). (2001). The discipline for pastoral care giving: Foundations for outcome orientated chaplaincy. New York/London: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • VandeCreek, L., & Mooney, S. F. D. (2002). Parish nurses, health care chaplains, and community clergy: Navigating the maze of professional relationships. Binghamton: Haworth Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Vlasblom, J. P., Walton, M. N., van der Steen, J. T., Doolaard, J. J., & Jochemsen, H. (2014). Developments in healthcare chaplaincy in the Netherlands and Scotland: A content analysis of professional journals. Health and Social Care Chaplaincy, 2(2), 235–254.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Woodward, J. (2001). Are health care chaplains professionals? In H. Orchard (Ed.), Spirituality in health care contexts (pp. 84–95). London: Jessica Kingsley.

    Google Scholar 

  • World Health Organisation. (2000). Health systems: Improving performance. http://www.who.int/whr/2000/en/. Accessed 27 Aug 2018.

  • Zollfrank, A. A., Trevino, K. M., Cadge, W., et al. (2015). Teaching health care providers to provide spiritual care: A pilot study. Journal of Palliative Medicine, 18, 408–414.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Religion, Health and Human Values, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL, USA

    George Fitchett

  2. Department of Care Ethics, University of Humanistic Studies, Utrecht, The Netherlands

    Annelieke Damen

  3. Spiritual Health Association, Melbourne, VIC, Australia

    Cheryl Holmes

  4. Doris A. Howell Palliative Care, University of California San Diego Health, La Jolla, CA, USA

    Allison Kestenbaum

  5. Princess Alice Hospice, Esher, UK

    Steve Nolan

  6. The University of Winchester, Winchester, UK

    Steve Nolan

Authors
  1. George Fitchett
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Annelieke Damen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Cheryl Holmes
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Allison Kestenbaum
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Steve Nolan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to George Fitchett .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. School of Medicine, Federal University of Juiz de Fora, Juiz de Fora, Brazil

    Giancarlo Lucchetti

  2. Institute of Psychiatry, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil

    Mario Fernando Prieto Peres  & Rodolfo Furlan Damiano  & 

  3. Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein, São Paulo, Brazil

    Mario Fernando Prieto Peres

Resources – Websites for Spiritual Care Organizations

Resources – Websites for Spiritual Care Organizations

1.1 Australia

  • www.spiritualcareaustralia.org.au

    • Standards of Practice 2013

  • www.spiritualhealthvictoria.org.au

    • Spiritual Care Providers (Faith Community Appointed) Credentialing Framework 2015

    • Spiritual Care in Victorian Health Services: Towards Best Practice Framework 2016

    • Spiritual Care Minimum Data Set (SCMDS) Framework 2016

    • Capability Framework for Spiritual Care Practitioners in Health Services 2016

    • Heart and Soul Matters: A guide to providing spiritual care in mental health settings

    • Documenting Spiritual Care in Patient Medical Records: a best practice resource

  • www.pastoralcareact.org

    • Standards of Practice for Pastoral Care 2013

  • https://anzacpe.com/

    • ANZACPE is the umbrella organisation for the various associations of Clinical Pastoral Education in Australia and New Zealand

1.2 Europe

1.3 The Netherlands

1.4 United Kingdom

1.4.1 UK Board of Healthcare Chaplaincy

1.5 Canada and the United States

1.5.1 Canada

  • www.spiritualcare.ca

    • Canadian Association for Spiritual Care (CASC) is a national multifaith organization committed to the professional education, certification and support of people involved in pastoral care and pastoral counseling.

1.5.2 United States

  • www.professionalchaplains.org

    • Association of Professional Chaplains

      • Standards of Practice

      • Chaplaincy Board Certification

  • www.acpe.edu

    • Association for Clinical Pastoral Education

      • Accreditation of CPE programs and certification of educators

  • www.nacc.org

    • National Association of Catholic Chaplains (NACC)

    • An association of pastoral ministers who participate in the church’s mission of healing. Its mission is to promote professional development and support services for its members.

  • www.najc.org

    • Neshama: Association of Jewish Chaplains (NAJC)

    • A professional organization for Rabbis, Cantors and other Jewish professionals that seeks to enhance the kedusha of Jewish Chaplains that they may provide quality Jewish, religious and spiritual care.

  • www.navac.net

    • National Association of Veterans Affairs Chaplains (NAVAC)

    • A professional organization of chaplains in the Department of Veterans Affairs and its affiliates. NAVAC provides opportunities for continuing education in pastoral care; serves as a certifying body; and serves as an advocate in seeking to encourage professional collegiality, personal growth, and the professional development of VA chaplains.

  • http://www.professionalchaplains.org/files/professional_standards/common_standards/common_code_ethics.pdf

    • Council on Collaboration (2004, North American Chaplaincy Organizations)

      Common Code of Ethics for Chaplains, Pastoral Counselors, Pastoral Educators and Students

  • www.healthcarechaplaincy.org

    • HealthCare Chaplaincy Network

    • A global health care nonprofit organization that offers spiritual care-related information and resources, and professional chaplaincy services in hospitals, other health care settings, and online. Its mission is to advance the integration of spiritual care in health care through clinical practice, research and education in order to improve patient experience and satisfaction and to help people faced with illness and grief find comfort and meaning--whoever they are, whatever they believe, wherever they are.

  • www.transformchaplaincy.org

    • The Transforming Chaplaincy Project

    • This project, funded by grants from the John Templeton Foundation and the major professional chaplaincy organizations in the US, aims to better equip healthcare chaplains to use research to guide, evaluate, and advocate for the daily spiritual care they provide patients, family members and colleagues.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2019 Springer Nature Switzerland AG

About this chapter

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this chapter

Fitchett, G., Damen, A., Holmes, C., Kestenbaum, A., Nolan, S. (2019). Spiritual Care: The Role of Health Care Chaplaincy. In: Lucchetti, G., Prieto Peres, M.F., Damiano, R.F. (eds) Spirituality, Religiousness and Health. Religion, Spirituality and Health: A Social Scientific Approach, vol 4. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-21221-6_12

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation