Ann Brown is a spiritual caregiver at the Oilfields General Hospital and long-term care facility in Black Diamond.
Brown says bringing comfort and spiritual encouragement to the sick and elderly has long been an interest but when she took one of Linda Ormson's classes it became a passion.
Ormson has been both a medical and spiritual caregiver.
“As a nurse for 30 years I’m a caregiver at my core and so once I had sort of, almost finished up my nursing career I thought it was sort of time to look at something else and where I could extend that caregiving role and chaplaincy was the answer,” said Ormson.
Ormson earned a masters in theology and worked as a chaplain at the High River Hospital but saw a need to have trained caregivers of all faiths so she became a teacher and mentor.
“People who needed to have a little extra training to figure out how and what they should be doing at the bedside.”
Her program is based on the dissertation for her PhD research and since 2008 she has trained over 100 spiritual caregivers.
When Ann Brown took Ormson's class she knew she had found her calling.
“She's a very spiritual lady and she spent many hours working on this program and I love the fact that she thinks outside of the box. It doesn't matter what denomination you are, it doesn't matter who you are,” said Brown.
Brown says she constantly sees the benefits of what Ormson has taught her.
“You are helping them to heal quicker. I find when they have someone to talk to and spirit is touched they, uh the hospital stay time is much shorter,” said Brown.
For all she does to help meet people's spiritual needs when they need it most, Linda Ormson is our Inspiring Albertan this week.
(With files from Darrel Janz)
