These are the fourteen competencies for Palliative Care chaplaincy. This specialization is very popular at the moment, but I'm not sure its for me. I like the variety of my present ministry. The workshop at the National Association of Catholic Chaplains conference this year was sold out months in advance.
- Understanding of the history of the hospice movement and the subsequent expansion of palliative care while differentiating between the current philosophy and goals of palliative care and hospice in practice.
- Familiarity with state and federal laws regarding Advance Directives and other end of life practices.
- Knowledge of implications of medical treatment for life-threatening or life limiting illness as it impacts a patient’s physical, psycho-social, emotional, and spiritual pain.
- Utilization of family systems theory incorporated in the practice of palliative care and hospice as applied to care recipients, families and health care providers.
- Application of culturally appropriate, evidence-informed strategies for addressing the breadth and depth of multifaceted grief including complicated and anticipatory grief to extend to bereavement resources.
- Incorporation of a working knowledge and integration of psycho-socio, emotional and spiritual perspectives to function as a communication and emotional expert in the practice of palliative and hospice care.
- Communication and facilitation of goals of care family meetings that align treatment plans with patient’s values and or advanced care plans.
- Collaborative and facilitative leadership with care recipients, family, teams and organizations.
- Application of best practices in palliative care and hospice spiritual assessment and documentation to facilitate aligning patient values and goals with the treatment plan.
- Working knowledge of the difference in the provision of advanced practice chaplaincy care as care recipients and families negotiate through the trajectory of a life-threatening illness in various settings.
- Skill in addressing ethical dilemmas at end of life and concerns as related to spiritual and/or religious issues.
- Ability to attend to the physical, emotional, social and spiritual well-being of the transdisciplinary team.
- Ability to teach and educate through articulating and integrating current research of best practices for the provision of palliative care and hospice chaplaincy care.
- Participation in quality improvement projects and/or research to increase standard of palliative care and hospice care provided.
