The Power of Partnership in ECS Chaplaincy
Chaplain Jackie, Ogden Regional Medical Center
When the call came early on a Thursday morning, Chaplain Jackie hurried to the ICU where a patient’s condition had worsened overnight. The patient’s sister soon arrived. She was shaken and distraught, describing how she had tried to bring the patient’s family member with her, and how he had threatened to come to the hospital to cause harm to others.
Recognizing the seriousness of the situation and following hospital protocols, Chaplain Jackie and the patient’s nurse alerted security and law enforcement immediately. To ensure the safety of everyone in the hospital, the hospital was soon locked down, with nobody allowed in or out of the hospital as a safety precaution.
Amidst the fear, Chaplain Jackie became an anchor of calm. While security personnel secured entrances and administrators managed safety protocols, the chaplain quietly moved among the nurses and staff, providing comforting words and steadfast support.
Responses to fear vary greatly. For one nurse particularly overcome by fear, Chaplain Jackie offered steady support. She remained by her side to provide a listening ear, silently praying, and guiding her breathing to manage her anxiety. This shared presence carved out a small pocket of calm amidst the crisis, and was a powerful testament that compassion and human connection can re-establish a sense of security, even when one’s own security feels threatened.
Chaplain Jackie provided a crucial ministry of presence during a difficult lockdown, offering staff members a safe space to share their worries and frustrations without judgment.
Although many felt powerless during this experience, Chaplain Jackie’s calm, compassionate, and courageous presence reminded staff that they were not alone. This steadying spiritual care allowed the frightened team to gradually relax, finding moments of laughter, conversation, and mutual support as they continued their work of caring for each other, the patients and their families.
The profound impact of this support was clear the following week when nurses offered heartfelt thanks and hugs, saying that Chaplain Jackie’s presence made them feel safer and more capable of enduring the harrowing day.
This experience powerfully illustrated the core of spiritual care: entering a crisis not with answers, but with a reassuring presence that steadies hearts and enables a team to continue serving with grace and hope.
