Offering spiritual support to dying patients and their families through a chaplaincy service.
Despite its importance in end of life care, spiritual care is poorly addressed. This article presents the results of an innovative service in which nurses notify hospital chaplains of all patients placed on the Liverpool Care Pathway and the chaplains then visit to offer spiritual support to both patients and their carers. Nurses reported that the service was valuable not only for patients and their families but also for themselves and the whole clinical team. All nurses said they wanted the service to continue.
Pugh
Edwin J
EJ
University of Teesside.
Smith
Susan
S
Salter
Paul
P
D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002604:Chaplaincy Service, Hospital / Q000458:organization & administration*; D002985:Clinical Protocols; D019091:Critical Pathways; D004739:England; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D024802:Nurse's Role / Q000523:psychology; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000523:psychology; D010327:Pastoral Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D012944:Social Support; D029181:Spirituality; D013727:Terminal Care / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000523:psychology