See the Person First

An Introduction to Patient-Centered Hospice Chaplaincy

Hospice chaplaincy begins with more than knowing what to say. It begins with learning how to see the end-of-life journey through the patient's eyes.

HOSP-001 introduces the patient-centered philosophy behind From Diagnosis to Goodbye and the CCCHAPS Academy Track Three Hospice Chaplaincy pathway. Participants will explore how presence, listening, patient autonomy, spiritual sensitivity, and thoughtful response shape compassionate hospice chaplaincy.

START FREE COURSE EXPLORE TRACK THREE

The central question of HOSP-001

Before asking, "What should the chaplain do?" first ask, "What might the patient be experiencing?"

Course description

Learning to See Hospice From the Patient's Side of the Bed.

Hospice professionals often enter a patient's room knowing the diagnosis, decline, medications, care needs, and family concerns. The chaplain must also learn to ask another question: Who is the person experiencing all of this?

HOSP-001 introduces participants to a patient-centered approach to hospice chaplaincy. Rather than beginning with what the chaplain wants to say, pray, teach, or accomplish, participants learn to begin by listening for the patient's voice. The course examines presence, patient autonomy, supportive listening, permission-based spiritual care, and the importance of meeting patients where they are physically, emotionally, relationally, and spiritually.

This is introductory chaplaincy education. It is not clinical training, medical instruction, psychotherapy, professional licensure preparation, or accredited continuing education.

Who should take HOSP-001

Appropriate for a range of spiritual-care roles.

Pastors exploring hospice chaplaincy

Ministers interested in end-of-life spiritual care

Current chaplains

Community chaplains

Volunteer chaplains

Spiritual-care providers

Chaplaincy students

Readers of From Diagnosis to Goodbye

Individuals considering the future Track Three Hospice Chaplaincy pathway

No prior CCCHAPS course is required. CTA-001 is not a prerequisite for HOSP-001.

Learning objectives

By completion, participants should be able to:

Explain why hospice chaplaincy begins with the patient's experience rather than the chaplain's agenda.
Describe the importance of patient autonomy and permission-based spiritual care.
Identify the difference between bringing a pastoral agenda and practicing patient-centered chaplaincy.
Demonstrate basic principles of supportive active listening.
Recognize when silence and presence may be appropriate chaplain interventions.
Identify questions that help explore a patient's emotional and spiritual experience.
Recognize why prayer, scripture, or religious conversation should follow the patient's needs and preferences.
Apply the HOSP-001 model: See → Listen → Explore → Support → Honor.
Describe how From Diagnosis to Goodbye connects patient perspective with practical hospice chaplaincy.

HOSP-001 teaching model

See → Listen → Explore → Support → Honor

START FREE COURSE EXPLORE TRACK THREE

HOSP-001 is introductory educational training. Completion does not confer professional licensure, clinical certification, accredited continuing-education credit, hospice certification, or authority to provide medical, mental-health, or clinical treatment.