Minnie Wright
Canton,Mississippi
Summary
Empathetic, compassionate, and motivated team-player with the ability to combine clinical experience with interdisciplinary knowledge and critical thinking. Active listener with detailed understanding and adherence to spiritual and pastoral care, privacy, confidentiality, and HIPPA protocols. Staff Chaplain with fourteen years of experience assessing, developing, and coordinating spiritual care treatment plans. Well-organized and respectful spiritual caregiver with expertise in facilitating end of life, bereavement processes and leading interfaith chapel services, studies, and groups.
Overview
10
10
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Staff Chaplain
G. V. (Sonny) Montgomery VAMC
11.2023 - Current
- Resolved crisis and emotional issues through empathy, support, prayer and scripture.
- Enhanced overall quality of spiritual care services provided at the facility by creating a comprehensive chaplaincy program to address needs of underserved Veterans.
- Contributed to staff wellness initiatives by offering mindfulness exercises and opportunities for reflection through meditation or prayer sessions, especially during special events, like Nurses' Week.
- Maintained ongoing professional development through TMS, ILEAD/TRAIN and being mindful of upcoming conferences, seminars, or webinars related to chaplaincy practices.
- Counseled and provided care to Veterans with life-threatening illnesses to help families respond effectively to end of life issues.
- Utilize Whole Health and crisis intervention strategies that effectively addressed the spiritual needs of patients experiencing trauma or critical illness.
- Increased education about Chaplain Service through a PowerPoint presentation "What Do Chaplains Do" through distribution of the PowerPoint as needed for in-service use.
- Offered spiritual care and support in a variety of hospital settings, including intensive care unts, emergency departments, and long-term care facilities.
- Bringing awareness of Chaplain Service by participating in unit huddles and offering to do warm hand-offs for MST and other types of trauma-related issues.
- Collaborated with interdisciplinary teams to develop comprehensive care plans that addressed Veterans' physical, emotional, and spiritual needs.
- Assisted with the planning and execution of Honor Walks, Last Roll Call Memorial Service, flag folding training, etc. for our Fallen Veterans and their families.
- Lead the first memorial service in the Chapel for a Fallen Veteran/co-worker.
- Promoted a positive work environment through participation in staff meetings, huddles, and TEAMS meetings focusing on self-care and professional growth.
- Reduced stress levels for patients and families by offering individualized counseling sessions addressing grief, loss, and other complex emotions.
- Enhanced hospital staff morale with regular pastoral visits, active listening, and empathetic communication.
- Supplied spiritual care for diverse religious needs of patients, family and staff such as grief and bereavement support.
- Communicated with interdisciplinary healthcare team to obtain pertinent information regarding patient's condition, family dynamics, and health care teams' understanding of need for spiritual care.
- Played an integral role in end-of-life decision-making by collaborating closely with medical teams during ethics consultations involving complex cases.
- Active listening to Veterans, their families, and staff for innovative ways to meet their needs.
- Collaborated with five-person Chaplaincy team to develop and implement plans for increasing coverage for Veteran satisfaction.
- Promoted a positive work environment through participation in staff meetings, retreats, and workshops focusing on self-care and professional growth.
PRN Chaplain
Grandview Medical Center
10.2021 - 06.2023
- Assists with spiritual, emotional, and personal needs for all emergent consults, including ED, ICUs, and Behavioral Units (average 2 3 night)
- Provides pastoral presence, counseling, guidance, and spiritual resources on an on-call basis (2 - 12 hours shifts/week)
- Utilizes Pastoral Care Case List Model to assess and monitor patients’ spiritual needs and concerns
- Documentation of appropriate spiritual information to ensure religious beliefs are considered in treatment plans
- Completes annual training and other essential trainings, as appropriate and in a timely manner.
PRN Chaplain
Shelby Baptist Medical Center
06.2019 - Current
- Assists patients with spiritual and faith-based needs (all emergent units, including Senior and Behavioral Units) fiver (average 15 night)
- Provides presence, guidance, recommendations, and spiritual resources
- Ensures religious beliefs are being considered in treatment plan of care
- Leads chapel service (Pre-COVID) (1 per month rotation)
- Participates on interdisciplinary treatment team, as requested (1 per month)
- Facilitates Spirituality Group with Behavioral Unit patients.(one on each Saturday)
On-Call Sexual Assault Response Advocate
SafeShelby Sexual Assault Services
01.2021 - 10.2023
- Provides sexual assault survivors with emotional support throughout the forensic exam process (at least 3-12 hour tours per week).
- Provides support and information related to survivors’ basic needs
- Ensures survivors are familiar with their rights, confidentiality, privacy policies, and grievance procedures plus personalized safety plans and other pertinent resources
- Provides transportation and accompaniment to client court appointments, as requested.( average 1 month if needed)
Volunteer Chaplain
Shelby Baptist Medical Center
05.2019 - 06.2019
- Assists patients with spiritual and faith-based needs during their hospital stay
- Provides guidance, recommendations, and resources
- Ensures religious beliefs are being considered in plan of care.
Youth Care Specialist
Family Connection
05.2018 - 11.2018
- )Provided pastoral care and support/counseling as a positive role model for all at-risk youths in program (average of 5-7 children/week
- Served effectively and efficiently as a member of the teams (staff, volunteers, community leaders, etc.) to ministry best care practices for the at-risk youths in program
- Responded to and partnered with other staff by providing excellent decision-making skills and participation in house team meetings
- Completed documentation to include daily journal entries, TEAM reports, etc.
Staff Chaplain
UAB Hospital
03.2017 - 08.2017
- Utilized First Net Technology Model (UAB) to increase emergency department spiritual assessments from 8 to 20 during the night shift (11p-7a)
- Arranged and conducted reasonable accommodation by utilizing various modes of communication, such as video interpreter (deaf), interpreter phones, etc
- To overcome language barriers to increase access for patient-centered care
- Partnered with and maintained contacts with community clergy to meet the religious and spiritual needs of a pluralistic patient population.
Staff Chaplain
Vanderbilt Medical Center
05.2016 - 02.2017
- Offered spiritual consolation, support, and guidance to patients with unique issues by developing the NICU Moms Program for much needed spiritual/pastoral counseling for new mothers and their sick newborns
- Conducted services including devotions through facilitation of interpersonal relationships and affirming opportunities for families and clinical staff on the evening shift (3p-11p)
- Utilized spiritual assessments in the care of patients (including hospice and palliative care units) and conveyed relevant findings to other professionals to be integrated in the patient’s treatment plan through partnering with CPE students for debriefings, spiritual assessments, follow-ups, and other educational opportunities.
Chaplain Fellow/Treatment Coordinator
North Texas VA
08.2015 - 05.2016
- Provided pastoral care and spiritual support to veterans and their families, as well as facilitated groups through co-creating a Meditation Group alongside Buddhist Chaplain Fellow to meet a need revealed by the residents of the Homeless Domiciliary (HDOM), facilitating Spirituality Groups, and developing and facilitating Bible Studies with HDOM residents utilizing various modes of media
- Served as spiritual counselor/treatment coordinator to Veterans with ethical and moral concerns by ministering as the first Chaplain Fellow assigned to the Homeless Domiciliary Interdisciplinary Treatment Team
- Supported and provided priority ministry through co-leading with VA psychologist a weekly female veterans group (8-10) suffering with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)/Military Sexual Trauma (MST).
Chaplain Resident
G. V. (Sonny) Montgomery VA
08.2014 - 08.2015
- Provided pertinent information to other staff professionals about the spiritual well-being of our veterans (including hospice and palliative care units) by developing partnership between Pastoral Care and Women’s Clinic/CBOCs (Community Based Outpatient Clinics) to highlight the special needs of the growing population of female veterans
- Arranged for delivery of spiritual care through creating the Art Therapy project to strengthen community and relationships within the VA.
Education
CPE 2 Units (Fellowship)
North Texas VA
Dallas, TX05.2016
Continued Education - CPE - 4 Units
G. V. (Sonny) Montgomery VA
Jackson, MS08.2015
Internship (1 CPE Unit) - CPE
Princeton Baptist Medical Center
Birmingham, AL06.2014
Masters of Divinity -
Vanderbilt Divinity School
Nashville, TN12.2013
BA - Leadership Ministries
Southeastern Bible College
Birmingham, AL05.2009
BS - Mathematics
Jackson State University
Jackson, MS05.1979
Skills
- Grief support
- Ethical guidance
- Ministry Development
- Crisis Intervention
- Teamwork and Collaboration
- Crisis Management
Accomplishments
- Collaborated with team of 7 in the implementation of the VA Quarterly Baby Shower, Quarterly Female Veterans Health Forum, designated Chaplain for Women's Clinic, and various other programming to enhance services to meet the needs of the growing population of female Veterans..
- Used Microsoft Excel to develop aftercare inventory spreadsheet to track Veterans suffering with various issues, such as toxic relationships, loss of future story anxiety, etc.
- Achieved enlargement of Chaplain Service footprint by effectively participating in the life of the VA community through weekly Motivational Moments PowerPoint presentations, writing devotions for the Chaplain Service page, etc.
Keyprofessionalskills
- Patient-Centered Care
- Devotion to Chaplaincy/Pastoral Authority
- Moral and Spiritual Guidance
- Decision Making
- Adaptability
- Attentive to spiritual, personal, and emotional needs
- Leadership
- Sense of Justice
- Innovative/Intuitive
- Excellent Listening, Oral, and Written Communications
- Continuing Education
- Board Certified within first six months of employment with the VA
Affiliations
- The Coalition of Spirit-Filled Churches
- NAVAC Board Certified
Certification
- Certified [Job Title], [Company Name] - [Timeframe]
Timeline
Staff Chaplain
G. V. (Sonny) Montgomery VAMC
11.2023 - Current
PRN Chaplain
Grandview Medical Center
10.2021 - 06.2023
On-Call Sexual Assault Response Advocate
SafeShelby Sexual Assault Services
01.2021 - 10.2023
PRN Chaplain
Shelby Baptist Medical Center
06.2019 - Current
Volunteer Chaplain
Shelby Baptist Medical Center
05.2019 - 06.2019
Youth Care Specialist
Family Connection
05.2018 - 11.2018
Staff Chaplain
UAB Hospital
03.2017 - 08.2017
Staff Chaplain
Vanderbilt Medical Center
05.2016 - 02.2017
Chaplain Fellow/Treatment Coordinator
North Texas VA
08.2015 - 05.2016
Chaplain Resident
G. V. (Sonny) Montgomery VA
08.2014 - 08.2015
CPE 2 Units (Fellowship)
North Texas VA
Continued Education - CPE - 4 Units
G. V. (Sonny) Montgomery VA
Internship (1 CPE Unit) - CPE
Princeton Baptist Medical Center
Masters of Divinity -
Vanderbilt Divinity School
BA - Leadership Ministries
Southeastern Bible College
BS - Mathematics
Jackson State University