What nursing skills can students learn from healthcare chaplains?
While nursing students are developing the skills they need to give person-centred care, they may lack confidence to broach conversations about the individual’s spiritual needs or religious beliefs. A person’s spirituality may be an important source of comfort to them and is therefore essential in helping them cope and giving their life meaning. Healthcare chaplains are specialists in this area and are well placed to support nursing students to learn skills of active listening and other communication, reflection, team working, empathy, compassion and maintaining professional boundaries. Any student can request a clinical placement with a hospital chaplaincy. Chaplains will also offer well-being support to healthcare workers, and nursing students on clinical placement.
