Begin with deidentified patient language, a communication task, a referral question, or a documentation need.
Whole-Person Navigator
What did your patient say, or what do you need to do?
Generalist spiritual care
Possible themes
meaning · values · relationships · hope · worldview
Suggested opening
Would it be helpful to tell me more about what this experience means to you and what support would fit?
Exploration
What does this experience mean to you?
What gives you strength, connection, or hope?
Are any beliefs or practices affecting healthcare decisions?
Would support from spiritual care or another professional help?
Clinical considerations
Assess symptoms, cognition, mood, safety, decision-making capacity, social context, and treatment implications without diagnosing from one statement.
Referral
Use qualified specialist support when distress, complexity, conflict, or urgency rises.
Documentation example
Patient described concern in their own words. Explored meaning, sources of strength, preferences, healthcare implications, and desired support. Appropriate referral offered; follow-up planned.
Healthcare professionals may offer respectful generalist spiritual care through presence, permission-based questions, recognition of concerns and strengths, support for patient autonomy, and appropriate referral. Professional chaplains and other qualified spiritual-care professionals provide specialist assessment, relational care, theological or worldview expertise, rituals, reconciliation, complex grief support, treatment-conflict collaboration, and end-of-life accompaniment.