Standards for health care chaplains include:

Assessment: Gather and evaluate relevant information on the patient’s situation and biopsychosocial and spiritual/religious health

Delivery of care: Develop and implement a care plan to promote patient well-being and continuity of care

Documentation of care: Enter relevant medical, psychosocial and spiritual/religious information into the patient’s medical record

Teamwork and collaboration: Collaborate with the hospital’s interdisciplinary care team

Ethical practice: Adhere to the APC’s Common Code of Ethics

Confidentiality: Respect the confidentiality of all sources, including the patient, medical record and other team members

Respect for diversity: Work with the interdisciplinary care team to provide culturally competent, patient-centered care

Care for staff: Provide timely and sensitive chaplaincy care to the hospital staff through individual and group interactions

Care for the organization: Provide chaplaincy care to the organization consistent with the mission statement

Chaplain as leader: Provide leadership in the organization by participating on committees, councils and administrative teams

Continuous quality improvement: Seek and create opportunities to enhance the quality of chaplaincy care practice

Research: Practice evidence-based care, including ongoing evaluation of new practices and, when appropriate, contribute to or conduct research

Knowledge and continuing education: Develop and demonstrate a working, current knowledge of theory and practice and integrate that into care

Standards of Practice