DESCRIPTION: This course (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, and
religion at the end of life, and death and 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.
SIGNIFICANCE FOR LIFE AND MINISTRY: This course provides an introduction to the
world of hospice ministry--its tasks, skills, challenges, and opportunities.
LEARNING OUTCOMES: Students will (1) grow in their ability to engage in
theological reflection by having regular opportunities to think critically
about ministry in light of the Christian tradition; (2) deepen their
understanding of the cultural context of ministry by immersing themselves in a
specific context and regularly reflecting with their supervisor on the
connection between context and ministry; (3) develop toward becoming
spiritually mature and accountable practitioners by reflecting with their peers
in a theological reflection group or in their faith community, and with their
supervisor in their internship on the connection between their faith and their
ministry; (4) become better Christian leaders by having many opportunities to
practice the responsibilities of ministry throughout their internship.
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 visitation assignments,
meet regularly with the supervising chaplain, attend 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 AND ASSESSMENT: 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 uploaded on Moodle by the
tenth week of the quarter by the student along with the supervising chaplain's
evaluation. Meeting with Field Education Advisor during Week Five for a
progress report on the internship.
PREREGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS: Before the student may register for this
course, several steps must be completed, a process that may take up to a
two months, 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 at http://www.fuller.edu/current-students/resources/field-ed/field-ed.aspx.
Apply to a recognized hospice site. A list of recognized sites is available at http://www.fuller.edu/current-students/resources/field-ed/chaplaincies.aspx.
After acceptance, submit an internship application by email and schedule an
enrollment interview with the Field Education and Ministry Formation Office. If
the internship is approved, the student and his/her Academic Advisor will
receive a Course Approval Notification. The student must then contact the
Advising Office to receive a Course Reference Number (CRN) in order to register
for FE548 online. The student must also complete an orientation with the
assigned chaplain at the beginning of the internship. The student may also need
to complete other preliminary requirements as well, such as a drug screen or
background check. These preliminary requirements may take a month to complete,
and must be completed before the student can begin the internship. Some or all
of these costs may be passed along to the student from the hospice
organization.
PREREQUISITES: Completion of 24 units before registering for this course.
RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: Meets FE2 Field Education MDiv requirement (MIN 7).
It is an elective for the Masters in Theology (MAT). This internship is offered
pass/fail for two units.
This ECD is a reliable guide to the course design but is subject to modification. (August 2011)