Abstract
Abstract Text: Background: The COVID-19 pandemic brought unprecedented strain upon healthcare systems worldwide, presenting hospital chaplains with unique challenges in responding to the increased emotional, mental, and spiritual distress experienced by patients, families, and staff, while also having to prioritize their own well-being.1-3 Traditional methods of providing care were largely unavailable to these chaplains during the pandemic, requiring them to adopt new strategies and innovative ways to maintain engagement with patients and hospital staff.4-5
Study Aim: This study aimed to explore chaplains' experiences in caring for patients, family, and staff during the height of the pandemic, as the initial step in better understanding their evolving roles and identifying targeted strategies to maximize their positive impact, particularly, during times of crises.
Methods: For this qualitative study, 11 chaplains at a tertiary hospital located in Southern California participated in semi-structured interviews during the COVID-19 pandemic. A thematic analysis was conducted to categorize emergent themes relating to elements of the chaplains’ evolving roles in caring for patients/families, the healthcare team, and the chaplains themselves during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Results: Chaplains discussed the challenges of supporting patients and families through the grief and anxiety of physical isolation during COVID with many particularly highlighting the spiritual and emotional distress around patients dying alone. Additionally, chaplains had to be “more and more creative” and figure out “how to be a presence through technology.” Chaplains also delved deeply into the growing role of caring for hospital staff to alleviate distress, moral injury, and trauma. Finally, chaplains discussed ways in which they practiced self-care including working from home or adjusting work schedules through the support of their supervisors, expanding their prayer life, and incorporating technology to maintain connections with “a community of people who I know and trust.”
Implications: The Chaplains’ role within the healthcare team has evolved under the stressors of the pandemic and has expanded their scope of practice to both patients and healthcare providers. Future studies are needed to better understand the impact of various innovative solutions (e.g., technology) to promote spiritual health and well-being for both patients and healthcare workers alike.
Notes
References: Desjardins, C. M., Bovo, A., Cagna, M., Steegen, M., & Vandenhoeck, A. (2021). Scared but Powerful: Healthcare Chaplains' Emotional Responses and Self-Care Modes during the SARS-Cov-19 Pandemic. The Journal of Pastoral Care & Counseling: JPCC, 75(1_suppl), 30–36. https://doi.org/10.1177/1542305021993761
Snowden A. (2021). What Did Chaplains Do During the Covid Pandemic? An International Survey. The Journal of Pastoral Care & Counseling: JPCC, 75(1_suppl), 6–16. https://doi.org/10.1177/1542305021992039
Tata, B., Nuzum, D., Murphy, K., Karimi, L., & Cadge, W. (2021). Staff-Care by Chaplains during COVID-19. The Journal of Pastoral Care & Counseling: JPCC, 75(1_suppl), 24–29. https://doi.org/10.1177/1542305020988844
Popper-Giveon, A., & Keshet, Y. (2023). Layers of senses: Experiencing intercorporeality in teletherapy. Health (London, England : 1997), 13634593231156811. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1177/13634593231156811
Tan, H., Holmes, C., Flynn, E., & Karimi, L. (2021). "Essential Not Optional": Spiritual care in Australia during a pandemic. The Journal of Pastoral Care & Counseling: JPCC, 75(1_suppl), 41-45. https://doi.org/10.1177/1542305020985071
Sigma Membership
Gamma Tau at-Large
Type
Presentation
Format Type
Text-based Document
Study Design/Type
N/A
Research Approach
N/A
Keywords:
Interprofessional/interdisciplinary, Workforce, Stress/coping.
Recommended Citation
Kim, Linda Y.; Low, Sarah; Martinez-Hollingsworth, Adrienne; Weiner, Jason; Shu, Christina; Coleman, Bernice; and Florindez, Lucia, "Evolving Role of Hospital Chaplains: Optimizing Patient, Staff, Self Well-Being During Pandemic" (2025). Creating Healthy Work Environments (CHWE). 4.
https://www.sigmarepository.org/chwe/2025/presentations_2025/4
Conference Name
Creating Healthy Work Environments
Conference Host
Sigma Theta Tau International
Conference Location
Phoenix, Arizona, USA
Conference Year
2025
Rights Holder
All rights reserved by the author(s) and/or publisher(s) listed in this item record unless relinquished in whole or part by a rights notation or a Creative Commons License present in this item record.
Review Type
Abstract Review Only: Reviewed by Event Host
Acquisition
Proxy-submission
Evolving Role of Hospital Chaplains: Optimizing Patient, Staff, Self Well-Being During Pandemic
Phoenix, Arizona, USA
Abstract Text: Background: The COVID-19 pandemic brought unprecedented strain upon healthcare systems worldwide, presenting hospital chaplains with unique challenges in responding to the increased emotional, mental, and spiritual distress experienced by patients, families, and staff, while also having to prioritize their own well-being.1-3 Traditional methods of providing care were largely unavailable to these chaplains during the pandemic, requiring them to adopt new strategies and innovative ways to maintain engagement with patients and hospital staff.4-5
Study Aim: This study aimed to explore chaplains' experiences in caring for patients, family, and staff during the height of the pandemic, as the initial step in better understanding their evolving roles and identifying targeted strategies to maximize their positive impact, particularly, during times of crises.
Methods: For this qualitative study, 11 chaplains at a tertiary hospital located in Southern California participated in semi-structured interviews during the COVID-19 pandemic. A thematic analysis was conducted to categorize emergent themes relating to elements of the chaplains’ evolving roles in caring for patients/families, the healthcare team, and the chaplains themselves during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Results: Chaplains discussed the challenges of supporting patients and families through the grief and anxiety of physical isolation during COVID with many particularly highlighting the spiritual and emotional distress around patients dying alone. Additionally, chaplains had to be “more and more creative” and figure out “how to be a presence through technology.” Chaplains also delved deeply into the growing role of caring for hospital staff to alleviate distress, moral injury, and trauma. Finally, chaplains discussed ways in which they practiced self-care including working from home or adjusting work schedules through the support of their supervisors, expanding their prayer life, and incorporating technology to maintain connections with “a community of people who I know and trust.”
Implications: The Chaplains’ role within the healthcare team has evolved under the stressors of the pandemic and has expanded their scope of practice to both patients and healthcare providers. Future studies are needed to better understand the impact of various innovative solutions (e.g., technology) to promote spiritual health and well-being for both patients and healthcare workers alike.
Description
This project describes the evolving role of chaplains during the COVID-19 pandemic as they adopted new strategies to care for patients, staff, and self.