Hospitable hospitals in a diverse society: from chaplains to spiritual care providers.
The chaplain's role in health care services has changed profoundly within the contexts of managerial and fiscal constraints, and increasingly pluralistic and secularized societies. Drawing from a larger study that examined religious and spiritual plurality in health care, we present findings regarding the contributions of chaplains or spiritual care providers (SCPs) as they are referred to more recently, in Canadian institutional health care contexts. Qualitative analyses of interviews with 14 employed SCPs and 7 volunteers provided insights about legitimizing and crafting the role of SPCs, becoming part of the health care team, and brokering diversity. Implications are discussed in relation to role clarification and policy development for truly hospitable health care.
Pesut
Barbara
B
School of Nursing FIN 344, University of British Columbia Okanagan, 3333 University Way, Kelowna, BC, V1V 1V7, Canada. barb.pesut@ubc.ca
Reimer-Kirkham
Sheryl
S
Sawatzky
Richard
R
Woodland
Gloria
G
Peverall
Perry
P
D000368:Aged; D002170:Canada; D002604:Chaplaincy Service, Hospital; D018864:Cultural Diversity; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D024382:Professional Role; D036301:Qualitative Research; D029181:Spirituality; D014838:Volunteers