A chaplain is available to talk with you about your feelings and spiritual needs while you are a patient in the Burn Center.  The chaplain is also here to support your family and to speak to your family on your behalf when you are not able to visit with them.  Your nurse can contact the chaplain for you.

Worship services are provided each Sunday at 10:30 A.M. in the hospital chapel on the first floor and televised live on Channel 7.  Any patient or family member may attend.  The on-call chaplain for that day leads the service.

Other spiritual needs you have can be discussed with the chaplain.  Communion, scripture reading, and family worship times can be done at your bedside.  Bibles are given upon request; Spanish translations are available.  There is also a small chapel near the Burn Center waiting room that can be used for quiet time, prayer, meditation, and consultation with the chaplain.

We believe there is a spiritual component to recovery from burn injury.  Reliance upon spiritual strength and guidance can be very important for patients, families, and staff alike.  We acknowledge and respect the wide diversity of ways that people use to communicate with their spiritual nature, and we are here to provide guidance and assistance in any way we can.

The chaplain can also help you and your family cope during difficult times.  Just talking with someone may help you through times of overwhelming “blues” or “sadness”, which are common after a burn, or help you understand your grief, which is a normal part of recovering from a stressful injury.  You may grieve over the loss of the way your body once looked, over not being able to do things the way you always have, or over time lost from family, friends, and co-workers.  Each person grieves according to his own way of looking at life and concerns.  There is no right or wrong way to grieve.

When you leave the hospital, your local clergy or spiritual advisor may be a safe person to continue talking with about your feelings.  These professionals can also help you find more help if you need a referral to another counselor.  You can also call back to the Burn Center at 919-966-3693 or 919-966-3571 and ask for the chaplain or leave your number for the chaplain to call you back.