Creating an interprofessional education package on patients’ spiritual needs

As a healthcare chaplain completing a master of science degree in advanced healthcare practice, I (the first author) undertook an elective course in ‘Education for professional practice’ led by the second author, who contributed to preparing this article. This involved designing, delivering and reflecting on an education session relevant to my practice, and the subsequent review of the session based on learner feedback. This allowed me to share the education package with others in my team at work, while learning more of the education theory involved in creating learning spaces during clinical placements.

My role includes building relationships with the staff and students on the wards to support them when needed. While discussing their placement with a student nurse, I ended by indicating they could always refer patients that they thought might need to speak to a healthcare chaplain. The student replied: ‘We have nobody religious on the ward!’. I did not reply immediately, but when reflecting on this I realised, despite being a newly qualified practitioner myself, it was my role to challenge this view. Healthcare chaplains are the people who should be promoting their role and the work they do. I remembered that the previous year, when I was a student chaplain, the first time I met other students on placement was when I provided a spiritual care learning session, and it felt wrong somehow. I realised I wanted to create a space for students of all disciplines to come together on placement, to share experiences and support each other, and decided to do something about it.