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Hospice Chaplain Amy Fishburn: Calm Compassion Amid Emotional Storms
Amy Fishburn’s greatest gift in life is to provide calmness when others are going through emotional storms. Being a Hospice Chaplain is difficult, but she handles it with grace, strength, and kindness.
She has a lot of unique experiences under her belt. She has worked everything from retail to being a quarter-time Chaplain at Saint Luke’s South to working for the U.S. Forest Service in Colorado.
Fishburn received her Bachelor of Science in Natural Resource Recreation and Tourism from Colorado State University in Fort Collins, Colorado. She earned her Master of Divinity Degree from Lancaster Theological Seminary in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
Her profession has a lot of depth, as she loves providing comfort and hope for patients and their loved ones.
“I offer spiritual support to our patients and their families. I offer them help in finding meaning and comfort in what they are journeying through, how their illness impacts their way of being, their way of thinking about themselves,” she said. “My support will look different depending on what the patient and family desires. It could mean providing a prayer, reading scripture, or contacting their clergy. For those who identify as spiritual but not religious, I might offer a poem about art or nature that helps the patient make meaning of their life now that they are on hospice services.”
“I think this is the first job I’ve had, and I’ve had many,
AMY FISHBURN
where there was no hostility or friction between co-workers.”
Her spiritual support is also available to colleagues and other staff members who would like it.
Fishburn knows precisely why she enjoys working at Midland Care.
“Teamwork! Every day, there is an example of someone offering to help someone else on the team. I’ve appreciated when RN Case Managers have suggested to patients, who initially declined a Chaplain visit, that it might be a good idea to meet me at least once,” she said. “Another example of teamwork, and our RN CMs supporting the whole person.”
She appreciates the kindness her colleagues show her and others.
“The top benefits are intangibles. It is the helpfulness and kindness of everyone I’ve encountered who works here. I think this is the first job I’ve had, and I’ve had many, where there was no hostility or friction between co-workers,” she said.
Grief and Loss Coordinator Serena Kent is pleased with the level of care Fishburn provides. Fishburn possesses introspective, conscientious, and open-minded qualities and can be extroverted when necessary. She excels as an attentive listener and is highly responsible.
“Amy is thoughtful and intentional when working with her patients, families, and team.
I have witnessed Amy taking reading material to a patient who lived in a nursing home because he did not have a lot of monetary assets. This patient also did not have family or friends who lived nearby. Amy knew that reading brought joy and comfort to him, so she delivered books to him,” Kent said. “I have also witnessed Amy going above and beyond to find devotionals and rosaries for the patients she serves.”
Fishburn grew up on a dairy farm southwest of Lawrence, near the village of Lone Star.
She enjoys photography, connecting with nature, reading, and exploring new places through travel in her free time.
With her dry sense of humor, she added that some of her family bring her joy in life.
She follows KU and Kansas City athletics.