DESCRIPTION: This course (offered pass/fail for 2 units) is designed to provide
an experience of pastoral care in the hospice setting, under the direct
supervision of an experienced hospice spiritual care provider. Students will:
(1) explore attitudes about disease, pain, suffering, spirituality &
religion at the end of life, and death & dying; (2) learn the hospice
philosophy of palliative care; (3) develop skills in visitation and spiritual
assessment within home and health care facility contexts; (4) sharpen abilities
to reflect theologically in connection with patient care needs and concerns; (5)
participate in grief support settings, memorial services and other rituals as
available.
LEARNING OUTCOMES: Students will (1) have a clearer sense of pastoral
identity; (2) be better able to function in a pastoral role; (3) grow in their
moral and spiritual integrity as followers of Jesus Christ; (4) be better able
to engage in theological reflection in Christian ministry; (5) appreciate the
importance of theological reflection in Christian ministry; (6) be more
committed to the church.
RELEVANCE FOR MINISTRY: This course provides an introduction to the world of
hospice ministry--its tasks, skills, challenges and opportunities.
COURSE FORMAT: The student will spend a minimum of 100 hours in hospice-related
settings (homes, skilled nursing settings, office) in one 10-week period.
During this time, the student will be given patient visit assignments, meet
regularly with the supervising chaplain and other hospice staff for integrative
and didactic sessions, and participate in memorial services or support group
settings as assigned. The chaplain will provide training and lead discussions
on topics relevant to hospice ministry. Students are required to attend all
sessions.
ASSIGNMENTS: Regular and punctual attendance, completion of all visitation
assignments, attendance at agreed upon meetings, inservices, and support
groups, completion of at least four written (typed) verbatims, one book review,
and one personal evaluation report to be submitted the tenth week of the
quarter by the supervising chaplain and the student to the Office of Field
Education. NOTE: Substitute assignments may be given by the chaplain, but
equivalent material must be submitted.
PREREGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS: Before the student may register for this
course, several steps must be completed, a process that may take up to a
month, since the student is responsible to make arrangements for an internship
site. The first step in the process is to read the preregistration materials
available on the Internet at www.fuller.edu/sot/fielded. Apply to a
recognized hospice site. Contact the Field Education Office for a list of
recognized sites. After acceptance, submit an internship application, and
schedule an enrollment interview with the Office of Field Education. If the
internship is approved, the student will then receive a Course Approval
Notification that must be submitted to the Academic Advisor prior to
registration. The student must also complete an orientation with the assigned
chaplain at the beginning of the internship.
PREREQUISITES: None.
RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: Meets FE2 Field Education MDiv requirement (MIN 7);
meets part of the practicum requirements for the MA in Family Life Education. This
internship is offered pass/fail for two units.
FINAL EXAMINATION: None.
This ECD is a reliable guide to the course design but is subject to modification. (8/07)