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Table 3 The chaplaincy taxonomy

From: What do I do? Developing a taxonomy of chaplaincy activities and interventions for spiritual care in intensive care unit palliative care

Intended effects

Methods

Interventions

Aligning care plan with patient’s values

Accompany someone in their spiritual/religious practice outside your faith tradition

Acknowledge current situation

Facilitate closure

Build relationship of care and support

Assist with finding purpose

Acknowledge response to difficult experience

Facilitate communication

Convey a calming presence

Assist with spiritual/religious practices

Active listening

Facilitate communication between patient and/or family member and care team

De-escalate emotionally charged situations

Collaborate with care team member

Ask guided questions

Facilitate communication between patient/family member(s)

Demonstrate caring and concern

Demonstrate acceptance

Ask guided questions about cultural and religious values

Facilitate decision making

Establish rapport and connectedness

Educate care team about cultural and religious values

Ask guided questions about faith

Facilitate grief recovery groups

Faith affirmation

Encourage end of life review

Ask guided questions about purpose

Facilitate life review

Helping someone feel comforted

Encourage self care

Ask guided questions about the nature and presence of God

Facilitate preparing for end of life

Journeying with someone in the grief process

Encourage self reflection

Ask questions to bring forth feelings

Facilitate spirituality groups

Lessen anxiety

Encourage sharing of feelings

Assist patient with documenting choices

Facilitate understanding of limitations

Lessen someone’s feelings of isolation

Encourage someone to recognize their strengths

Assist patient with documenting values

Identify supportive relationship(s)

Meaning-Making

Encourage story-telling

Assist someone with Advance Directives

Incorporate cultural and religious needs in plan of care

Mending broken relationships

Encouraging spiritual/religious practices

Assist with determining decision maker

Invite someone to reminisce

Preserve dignity and respect

Explore cultural values

Assist with identifying strengths

Perform a blessing

Promote a sense of peace

Explore ethical dilemmas

Bless religious item(s)

Perform a religious rite or ritual

 

Explore faith and values

Blessing for care team member(s)

Pray

 

Explore nature of God

Communicate patient’s needs/concerns to others

Prayer for healing

 

Explore presence of God

Conduct a memorial service

Provide a religious item(s)

 

Explore quality of life

Conduct a religious service

Provide access to a quiet place

 

Explore spiritual/religious beliefs

Connect someone with their faith community/clergy

Provide compassionate touch

 

Explore values conflict

Crisis intervention

Provide Grief Processing Session

 

Exploring hope

Discuss concerns

Provide grief resources

 

Offer emotional support

Discuss coping mechanism with someone

Provide hospitality

 

Offer spiritual/religious support

Discuss frustrations with someone

Provide religious music

 

Offer support

Discuss plan of care

Provide sacred reading(s)

 

Setting boundaries

Discuss spirituality/religion with someone

Provide spiritual/religious resources

  

Ethical consultation

Respond as chaplain to a defined crisis event

  

Explain chaplain role

Share words of hope and inspiration

  

Facilitate advance care planning

Share written prayer

   

Silent prayer