Verbatim Tool
(What is a Verbatim? It is an account or record of a Sky Pilot's visit to a person. It is used as a tool
to improve the performance of Sky Pilots as they interact with veterans and their families.)
HELP NOTE: In the space above enter information about the person you are visiting. For example: First name, age (if known), religious preference (if they have been evaluated), location (hospital, nursing home, etc.) For example: Peter is a patient at Super Care Medical Hospital. He is about 63 years old, with a large family. He is a member of my VFW Post/Pup Tent and was admitted to the hospital with chest pains. I know from previous conversations at the VFW Post/Pup Tent that Peter is a retired Army veteran. He is a Protestant. I made contact with the hospital nursing staff before my visit. There are no PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) restrictions for his room. The nurse said that he can have liquids.
HELP NOTE: What do you plan to do when you visit? For example: I plan to see if there are any questions about Peter's spirituality. I plan to make sure that he knows that he can contact me about spiritual care. I plan to evaluate Peter's spirituality by asking open ended questions in a non-threatening manner.
HELP NOTE: What do you see? What do you hear? What do you smell? For example: Peter is an Army veteran and is in a double patient room in the hospital near the window. Peter's curtain is closed and I can hear him coughing on the other side. I hear the IV pump sounding an alarm. There is a strong smell of urine and bleach in the air.
HELP NOTE: Greet the person and identify yourself as a Sky Pilot. Record the encounter as best as you can remember it in the following format: Letter, and number each exchange. Leaving a space between each sentence. [SP for Sky Pilot, P for Patient]: Try to note verbal and non verbal expressions (Happy, sad, looking away, crying, angry, etc.).
Example conversation:
SP1: Hello, Peter! Remember me from the Pup Tent? My name is Dave. I am the Pup Tent Sky Pilot. I'm here to see how you are doing.
P1: Yes, I remember you! (With a big smile.) It's nice to see a friendly face.
SP2: Would you like me to see if I can get that alarm turned off? (I am trying to create a more friendly environment for the visit.)
P2: Yes please! That alarm has been sounding for about 5 minutes. It's starting to give me a headache! (He is holding his head.)
SP3: Is it OK for me to share your health condition with other members of the Pup Tent? (Yes, I need to remember HIPPA regulations.)
P3: Yes, please do! (With and emphatic motion of his hands.)
HELP NOTE: Is the person talkative? Do they readily express their feelings? Do they express spiritual concerns, such as prayer? For example:
Peter and I connected with each other easily. Especially after I got the nurse to turn of the IV pump alarm. He told me that since he was a child has been going to the same church every Sunday very early in our conversation.
HELP NOTE: Did the person feel insecure about the visit or anything else? Did the person feel comfortable and safe speaking to you? Although Sky Pilots are not psychologists, try to evaluate the visit. For example: Peter told me that he is praying for his daughter to accept Jesus as her personal Savior.
HELP NOTE: Does the person trust those in the environment that they are in? How does their cultural background affect them?
For example: Peter has received great care from the team of doctors and nurses in the facility where he is a patient. He told me that he is of Italian heritage and family is very important to him. Especially when they all meet together on Sunday to have "gravy". (Italian pasta sauce.)
HELP NOTE: Not all Sky Pilots have had a theological education. With this in mind, just try to evaluate the persons concerns. For example: Peter would like his pastor to come by and offer him communion and speak with him. (Remember to get the contact information for his pastor.)
HELP NOTE: What are the Sky Pilot's thoughts about the visit? For example: Peter and I connected right away because I was in the Army too. I was encouraged by his faith in God and his dedication to family values. We prayed together at his request and I felt a real connection to God above.
HELP NOTE: Did the person connect with the Sky Pilot as a peer? What could the Sky Pilot have done to improve the visit? For example: Peter connected with me as a minister. I probably should have connected with the hospital Sky Pilot to get his take on Peter's condition. I really need to work on how to pray. The prayer that I said felt kind of awkward. I need to ask more open-ended questions so that I can get the person talking more about themselves.