Unit One of CPE Ends

My first unit of CPE is almost over. It became a bit overwhelming trying to blog, write verbatims and complete the other various tasks that go along with being a chaplain intern and a full time Mom.

CPE has been the most rewarding of experiences. I recommend it to anyone who wants to explore a career in ministry, social work or even in healthcare administration or healthcare marketing. So much of your success is determined by how much you embrace "the process".

"The process", also referred to as the Clinical Method of Learning, boils down to what kind of personal baggage are you bringing to your ministry and how does your personal baggage effect how you minister to patients, their families and staff. In CPE you are asked to reflect upon the words you use (and the words you didn't use) in the verbatim process. A verbatim is a line by line written account of your conversation with a patient. Your colleagues read/act out the dialouge and then your CPE Supervisor and colleagues offer insights and constructive critiques of the encounter.

I detail all of this because in researching CPE, I found a great deal of chaplain jargon but no real description of what it all meant. (Hopefully those contemplating taking a unit of CPE will find this more helpful than not.)

I was very fortunate to work with an extraordinary group of chaplain colleagues from all walks of life and varying faiths who were forthright and trustworthy. I was also fortunate to have a CPE Supervisor who embraced the fall on your face and figure it out for yourself first before I give you my tutelage method of learning.

It is very easy to get defensive and feel as though you're being personally attacked when colleagues and the Supervisor offer criticism. Once you realize that this process is only geared toward getting you to explore why you approach patients as you do the CPE process becomes far more instructive.

There is more work to be done. As it stands now, I plan to take a second CPE unit in fall.

Along with the relationships that I've made with colleagues throughout this facility, I will miss the hundreds of patients and families that have allowed me to be present during their most challenging of personal crises. It is difficult to recall all of their names but there will be a few whose names and faces will stay with me always.