“While meeting the spiritual and religious needs of a patient and family in the emergency room, a chaplain is a valuable resource for providing hope and comfort in some of the most traumatic and unimaginable circumstances. In addition to meeting the needs of patients and families, the chaplain is also able to provide comfort to staff after a death or an intense trauma.

– – Child Life Specialist at Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt

“We love our chaplain team! I personally feel supported and encouraged when our chaplains round in the Pediatric Emergency Department. They constantly check in on us personally as staff and on our patients. This makes me feel that someone is always there to lean on emotionally and physically.”

— Nurse in Emergency Department at Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt

“I believe that the chaplains in hospitals are essential. My child was recently at Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt for eight months. Chaplain Lisa came by to visit us shortly upon our arrival. My child found her easy to talk with. So, when she was feeling down and defeated from chemotherapy, she asked to see chaplain Lisa. She started to come once a week to visit her and to see how she was coming along. They walked together, talked together, threw footballs in the hallway and played basketball together. I am so grateful for the encouragement that chaplain Lisa gave my daughter.”

— Parent of pediatric cancer patient at Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt

“From a nurse’s perspective, knowing that staff chaplains are available to come to bedside during unpredictable moments of desperation is comforting. There have been multiple times that nurses witness the positive impact chaplains have on the families when they are on the roller coaster of having a medically fragile child. During these hard times, the chaplains are also a blessing to staff as we grieve and cope in taking care of the child and the family.”

– – Nurse in Pediatric Heart Institute at Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt