Dawn Baird

I have experience working in the following areas:

•      Labor and Delivery and Ante/Post Partum 

•      Level IV and Level II NICU 

•      Pediatric and Pediatric ICU

•      Pediatric and Adult Emergency Departments 

•      ICU to include Med/Surg and Cardiovascular

•      Oncology 

•      Surgical and Med/Surg

•      Neurology 

•      Surgical Orthopedics and Acute Rehabilitation

•      Spiritual / chaplaincy care assessments

Baptist Health System
Chaplain Resident 

10/2023-Current 

• As a resident in the Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) program through Baptist Health System, I have completed 4 units and have almost finished a 5th unit of CPE. 
• I have started working on BCCI competencies and other requirements towards Provisional Board Certification through the Association of Professional Chaplains
• As a CPE Resident, I was assigned to the following Baptist Health System (BHS) hospitals: 

                       *Mission Trail Baptist Hospital       *North Central Baptist Hospital 

                       *North East Baptist Hospital           *St. Luke's Baptist Hospital

Responsibilities included providing compassionate chaplaincy care and spiritual direction for staff, patient and families within the highest tradition of the Judeo-Christian heritage without violating any person's integrity, culture or faith tradition. Used pastoral assessments and interventions to provide interfaith, culturally appropriate spiritual care to diverse populations, both ethnically and religiously, while utilizing other clinicians and hospital staff of the interdisciplinary and palliative care teams for holistic health care.  Worked with local clergy and community faith leaders when needed for specific faith care needs. 

Supported Interdisciplinary Team members, offering compassionate chaplaincy care assistance when handling traumatic and/or end-of-life situations. Provided chaplaincy and emotional support to staff through spiritual debrief gatherings after traumatic, and/or end-of-life care situations. Assisted staff as a consultant regarding bioethical issues and practices of various faiths and cultures as they relate to health care and participated as a consultant in family care conferences.

Educated staff regarding faith specific care needs. Helped the pastoral care department to host mental and physical refreshment to staff utilizing a 'treat cart' which also included Employee Assistance Program (EAP) information for care team members

Facilitated daily overhead interfaith prayers for patients, families and staff. Provided worship and devotional opportunities to give chaplaincy care to staff, patients and families through room visits, huddles and/or group gatherings. Performed spiritual, faith-based rituals such as baby baptisms, baby naming ceremonies, adult baptisms, Holy Communion, and bereavement and grief counseling/care for adults, children and infants to include resource development and management.  Performed end-of-life ceremonies for patients of all ages and diverse faith traditions.

Educated staff, patients and families on Advance Directives and Medical Power of Attorneys, assisted with completion of those forms and assisted with determination of next of kin in accordance with state laws.  Performed Blessing of the Hands for nurses and staff, Imposition of Ashes on Ash Wednesday and dedication of new areas within hospital facilities. Designed and lead the annual Remembrance Service and the Military Veteran Recognition service. 

Provided weekly on-call coverage between two hospitals at a time and alerted pastoral care team members of the next shift of chaplaincy care situations about patients needing follow-up. Maintained accurate records of patient encounters and referrals for follow-up care. Made referrals and notifications as necessary to interdisciplinary team members or other members of the pastoral care team. 

Was recognized for exemplary chaplaincy care given to a pediatric family during an emergent trauma