CPE: Week 1
June 3, 2007
I have completed my first week of Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE). So far, I’ve really been enjoying the experience. Granted, getting up at 6am to carpool at 7.15 to get the 7.35 train to New Brunswick and to be at work by 8.30 is not my ideal summer schedule (and shirt/tie/coat is not ideal either); but it was a pretty good first week.
This week was heavy on orientation to both CPE and hospital life, though we did spend Thursday & Friday afternoons making visits. Much of our orientation was on hospital policies, learning which rooms required gowns and gloves (or masks in case of airborne infections). It’s amazing how “official” I felt once I received my name badge (which is the same as all the doctors, residents and staff chaplains) and my pager.
CPE is heavily influenced by the Action-Reflection education model, so we barely received any instruction at all on how to make the visits, what exactly to say, how to introduce ourselves, etc. We were just told to start making visits. Each of the 10 students in our group were assigned at least two floors, and I was assigned to the Surgical Oncology and Kidney Transplant units. Each is very unique, and I enjoyed meeting with the patients I saw last week. Out of all the oncology units, it has the healthiest patients; many are there post-op, and are recovering. The kidney transplant sees some dialysis patients and others who I haven’t met yet. In addition to my CPE Supervisor, I’ll be getting the chance to interact with a really wonderful Oncology Chaplain throughout the summer, and I’m really looking forward to that.
After the weekend is over, 3 of my colleagues will have already completed their first on-call. We have to do 7 on-calls throughout the summer - what that basically means is that we keep the on-call pager and get called to all the Code 40s (trauma in Emergency Department) and Code Blues (when a patient’s heart stops) in the hospital. On the weekend, you are the only chaplain around - so it’s a pretty intense experience. The hospital is one of three Trauma 1 hospitals in New Jersey and sees a lot (car/motorcycle accidents, shootings, stabbings, etc). I have my first on-call this Tuesday.
It’s definitely a more time-consuming venture than I’d like, but I think the ministry aspect and getting the chance to go through the experience will be very rewarding. This next week will give me a much better feel for what the summer should be like - with verbatims, interpersonal group work, my first on-call, and visiting patients all week. We’ll see…
Tags: Clinical-Pastoral-Education, CPE, Pastoral Care
Posted in 
Adam Walker Cleaveland: I am a 28 yr old 
June 3rd, 2007 at 5:27 pm
I just want to say that the chaplains who have visited with me in dialysis and in the hospital have been wonderful. I wish every dialysis unit had a chaplain.
June 4th, 2007 at 11:31 am
Adam,
I hope you get a lot out of your CPE experience. After graduating from Fuller I did a year of CPE with the intention of become a certified chaplain. I did a unit at Childrens Hospital in Los Angeles and then 9 months at a community hospital. I loved a good deal of the experience. A CPE program can a be a major benefit to a hospital when it is fully integrated. The action-reflection model can be a bit off putting for many, but I found that once I gave myself to it I gained a lot. The first unit is all about getting your bearings and learning the ropes. It is great experience in practicing being present with people who are hurting and in pain. You’ll find that people will open up to you in ways that you never thought would happen. My favorite units where trauma and ICU. I liked to be where the action is! Blessing in all that you do. May this be a shaping time in your life and ministry.
June 4th, 2007 at 5:27 pm
Adam - I’m doing CPE this summer in Pittsburgh and am also stationed on a Surgical Oncology floor. Since we’re at the start of the second week, I’ve had similar experiences to you so far - minus the on-calls (as of right now) and the trauma unit. I look forward to reading your reflections as the summer goes on!
June 4th, 2007 at 11:46 pm
My summer CPE was 3 years ago, also at a Level 1 Trama Center. The action-packed ER experience can be addictive. I got to be right there in the chilliness of the OR to watch a Mitral Valve replacement. I got to be there with dying persons, their families, and people of many different faiths. Several times I preached in the chapel (with the worship service announced and available on the TV in each room). I didn’t find the CPE residents to be a source of joy or knowledge, but my peers in the summer program did form a strong bond with each other. The experience is priceless.
June 5th, 2007 at 3:14 pm
I know you’re probably there more for the patients, but don’t forget the staff. I work in a trauma ICU and while most of the staff has grown very used to dealing with pain, death and grieving families, it can still be overwhelming. Keep your eyes out for nurses and techs, especially new ones, who may need a little spiritual counsel as well.
June 6th, 2007 at 10:33 pm
Sounds like you had a good week. I hope you have a good summer. I am on the other side: a clinical chaplain in a system that has a CPE program. I met this afternoon the student who will be working with me. I think he’ll do well. I expect you will, too.