This week, I will be a guest blogger at Rebecca Likes. My friend Rebecca is on vacation and asked K and I to write some posts for her. Rebecca likes is a blog about clothing, furniture, design, and stores that Rebecca likes. She has great taste and a rabbit named Senator. What’s not to like? So start reading because I’m writing for it and then keep reading it because of Rebecca. You’ll be glad you did.
Week One of CPE is done! 10 more to go.
This week went very well. It was mostly orientation and classes but, as I mentioned yesterday morning, I spent about an hour visiting patients in one of the units that I will be working at. Most of the patients were either asleep or being seen by nurses and doctors. However, I did meet four patients, and 2 family members. One patient had his wife there and I was able to visit with them with another chaplain. Another individual was just in so much pain, I couldn’t stay with them long. Another patient was very kind but didn’t need much help. And another patient didn’t even give me the time of day – when I walked in, announced who I was, the patient just put their hand up and shouted “PASS!” So I got a little bit of everything in that hour.
I learned a lot this week and meshed well with my group but, by 5 pm last night, I was exhausted. K and I visited an apartment (we’re moving this month), put in our rental application, ate some dinner and came home. I was able to play on the internet for about an hour before I passed out on the couch. At some point, I moved to the bed and slept till morning. I’m not a long sleeper but I needed that 10+ hours of sleep. I was exhausted. I have a feeling my friday nights are going to be like this for the rest of the summer.
Looking at the four visits, I’m trying to recall exactly what I said when I introduced myself. I remember mentioning my department and what we do but I don’t know if I called myself a chaplain or not. I think I did but I’m not sure. I’ve noticed that it takes awhile for me to get comfortable taking on a new title. At my field education site, it took a bit before I had no problem calling myself Vicar. Near the end of my time there, whenever someone would call me “Pastor Marc,” I was always taken aback. I almost wanted to butt in and say “oh hey, I’m not that quite yet.” But, this summer, even though I’m a student intern, I really am a chaplain. Just saying the word is going to be one of my projects next week.
The schedule for next week is to write a few papers, sit in class for a bit, and spend about 3.5 days visiting patients. I met some of the staff of the PICU and they seem very excited to have someone available to visit them during the week. I think, on Monday, I’ll be attending as many inter-disciplinary rounds as I possibly can. Medicine speak, I will master you.
The schedule at my CPE was changed this week and I’m actually scheduled to begin to see patients today. On Wednesday, we spent an hour shadowing a chaplain and seeing how the work is done. I was involved with the visits of four patients, met several families, tried some reflective listening, and also was pushed aside by a doctor at one point. I felt I got a nice little showcase of what to expect during CPE. I’m glad for that.
At the end of the day yesterday, my group and I received our department assignments. Each of us received three units. My units are: the department dealing with heart attacks and heart trauma (I forget the medical name for that), a general medicine unit, and pediatrics ICU. I kind of knew I would get kids because I was one of the few folks in the group who didn’t say “I don’t want kids.” I didn’t say anything not because I wanted to work with kids but, rather, I felt that if I started putting barriers on where I wanted to go, it wouldn’t serve my learning this summer. I’m not particularly good at ministering to groups and I have no experience ministering to family members who have a sick child or sick sibling. I know my future ministry will not be restricted to merely one-on-one meetings with individuals. I’m going to have to deal with families, friends, and all the baggage that entails. I will say that I am worried and a little concerned about working with kids but I do know I’m not alone. Even though I am the chaplain in these departments, I have a massive number of chaplains to help me out. It’s great to have resources.
So, as I write this, my stomach is in knots a bit but that’s okay. I’m nervous and a little anxious but I’m only visiting patients for an hour today. I’ve been given a couple of examples of how to introduce myself when I enter the room. I’ll have business cards to give out at the end. It’ll work out.