tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6833607.post1988112948533680528..comments2023-06-14T03:36:55.988-07:00Comments on Head Nurse: So I was thinking tonight about jobs I'd rather not have.Johttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16520599099436383317noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6833607.post-90993958008098420282011-01-12T17:18:02.440-08:002011-01-12T17:18:02.440-08:00Our chaplains are the best. They are compassionate...Our chaplains are the best. They are compassionate and *very* widely-read, which is something I deeply respect. They can address *any* spiritual issue from *any* religious tradition. Catholics, Muslims, evangelicals, Buddhists, even the occasional Asterisk-Worshipper.<br /><br />They're pretty cool.shrimplatehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08347542266047278227noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6833607.post-37834442321966553192011-01-10T09:36:50.582-08:002011-01-10T09:36:50.582-08:00You know, Jo. Although it doesn't add to the p...You know, Jo. Although it doesn't add to the post, I'm very curious how Ginny got the title "The Highly Inappropriate Chaplain." It sounds like there could be a hilarious story there.IowaStudenthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01205090816046818264noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6833607.post-76682186143895154982011-01-09T23:19:17.987-08:002011-01-09T23:19:17.987-08:00I want Terri C. around when the time comes...She&#...I want Terri C. around when the time comes...She's exactly on my wavelength and would provide the care and comfort I would need. I'm glad she's out there, too! (In addition to you, Jo, I mean!)<br /><br />LoriLori Williamshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09345565978120918743noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6833607.post-73161300560282486182011-01-09T16:14:16.752-08:002011-01-09T16:14:16.752-08:00To each a gift is given, you have yours, the chapl...To each a gift is given, you have yours, the chaplains have theirs.<br /><br />Both are needed; to paraphrase Paul, the eye can't say to the ear, the body doesn't need you because you aren't me.<br /><br />Thank you for what you do, and thank them for what they do. Both are the most important work of all, equally.messymimihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10649529601786689712noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6833607.post-43488151544573371232011-01-09T10:37:16.239-08:002011-01-09T10:37:16.239-08:00Will you hug Ginny the Highly Inappropriate Chapla...Will you hug Ginny the Highly Inappropriate Chaplain for me? I adore her. Completely.Penny Mitchellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13154829540938334107noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6833607.post-51600834479835286242011-01-09T06:26:41.341-08:002011-01-09T06:26:41.341-08:00This is why I value my friend Giacomo, the chaplai...This is why I value my friend Giacomo, the chaplain, so much now that I am a nurse. We have known each other for 10 years now.<br /><br />He always knows where I'm coming from, and takes me as I am.RehabNursehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02695247141022093754noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6833607.post-15509607349266940112011-01-08T20:48:54.276-08:002011-01-08T20:48:54.276-08:00Thank you, thank you Head Nurse. I'll take all...Thank you, thank you Head Nurse. I'll take all the hugs I can get. I work in hospice as a staff chaplain, and I find that in the demographic where I work (and believe me this varies STRONGLY) many people do not in fact want to talk about God or religion; I say prayer maybe 1/3 of the time; I deal with lots of patients and families who have been badly hurt by churches or by crap theology. Also I am not especially romantic and I do not believe that "the right thing always happens" or that "things turn out the way they should." LOVE Kate Braestrup's writing, and it is the Maine State Game Warden Service for which she is chaplain; she has much to say about presence and how that looks. I find that for some people the best help is to hold space for them to go to their darkest fears/hurts/rage at God, and be with them there so they are not alone, and not try to talk them out of any of it; that, from someone wearing a chaplain badge, can provide an opening to a "bigger" view of religion and the divine than has been possible, or not, as is needed. And, sometimes in hospice, we do have to "cause pain," in saying gently, yes, your loved one is dying, no, what you're seeing is not improvement, yes, you do need to decide, and no, there is no guarantee your decision is "THE right one." I work, btw, with an AWESOME crew of RNs, CNAs, and MDs, and I take my hat off to them a million times a day. I never cease to be amazed by what they can and do accomplish, in bringing comfort and dignity and love. I love my work and the team I am lucky enough to work with, more than I can say.terri chttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09398808840234914275noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6833607.post-17091786108524656452011-01-08T20:18:46.863-08:002011-01-08T20:18:46.863-08:00I too, appreciate our chaplin's. I know who to...I too, appreciate our chaplin's. I know who to call on when the patient is scared, going to surgery, or just needs a prayer. God does help heal, and I certainly need all the help I can get at my job!GingerJarhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18264306220362474678noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6833607.post-23614286808420423432011-01-08T19:47:40.098-08:002011-01-08T19:47:40.098-08:00I guess chaplain would not, technically, qualify f...I guess chaplain would not, technically, qualify for that reality show *Dirty Jobs.*'Dreahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18445124443770488433noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6833607.post-66261934933366115072011-01-08T19:44:40.997-08:002011-01-08T19:44:40.997-08:00This is why I'm a Buddhist. In Buddhism, pain...This is why I'm a Buddhist. In Buddhism, pain and suffering aren't something inflicted by an angry deity as punishment for misdeeds. It's just life.Ann (bunnygirl)https://www.blogger.com/profile/04938134750150653386noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6833607.post-61404070371991324562011-01-08T19:28:36.322-08:002011-01-08T19:28:36.322-08:00Great book: "Here If You Need Me" by Kat...Great book: "Here If You Need Me" by Kate Braestrup. It's an account of a woman who became a chaplain for the Dept. of Natural Resources in Maine.Celestenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6833607.post-72985253607431365002011-01-08T18:52:55.304-08:002011-01-08T18:52:55.304-08:00I enjoyed reading this. Thanks for the kind words...I enjoyed reading this. Thanks for the kind words about chaplains!<br /><br />Oddly enough, though, I think I have the easier of the two jobs (which is probably why I'm not a nurse!). First of all, I never <em>ever</em> have to stick anybody with needles. Being a medical caregiver means that often you have to hurt people in the service of helping them: chaplains don't have to do that. <br /><br />Secondly, our job isn't to fix anything. It's to help patients and families marshall the inner resources -- their own sources of strength -- that become so crucial in times of illness. In other words, it's to help remind them of what they already know has the power to heal them (and healing of some sort is always possible, even when medical cure isn't). Faith, friends and family are usually very high on that list, but over the six years I've been volunteering as a chaplain, I've talked to patients with lots of other tools: pets, cooking, art, nature, motorcycles, TV shows, music, you name it. <br /><br />Third, I'm not the One in charge. A mantra we learned during training reminds us that "God was in the room before you got there, and God will be in the room after you leave." <br /><br />Sure, it's hard sometimes, but so's nursing. And I <em>like</em> talking to people about big questions. I'd sure rather do that than have to place an IV! I usually don't have answers, but that doesn't bother me. Patients find it comforting to see other people grappling with these issues, too. It's a reminder that we're all in this together.<br /><br />The bottom line for both you and me, I think, is that we're privileged to be able to help patients and famiies the way we do, whether that's through conversation or medication.<br /><br />Bless you for what you do!Susan Palwickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08821954305024484206noreply@blogger.com