Careers Blog

Serving as a hospital chaplain, I’ve prayed with countless patients and their families over the years. All my prayers were sincere, but in my early years, there were times I said things that may have done more harm than good. As I interact with nurses, physicians, and other health care team members, I’ve come to see that I am not the only one who is occasionally at a loss for words, or who may accidentally say the wrong thing in an attempt to comfort others. When your heart goes out to a person who is hurting and you want to lift their concerns in prayer, here are some suggestions that may help you do it gracefully.

In this article, originally published in the March 2018 edition of Southern Tidings Magazine, AdventHealth president and CEO, Terry Shaw, shares his Christian perspective on the work we do in our hospitals and outpatient settings.

At AdventHealth, we are committed to providing whole person care to patients and their families. That means going above and beyond to care not just for their physical needs, but for their emotional and spiritual needs as well. The good news is that you don’t have to be a chaplain or have a theology degree to do this. It can be as easy as saying a quick prayer or offering a comforting touch.