Professional Mentality

 Professional Mentality

 

What has been missing in chaplaincy profession in Nigeria and continent of Africa by extension is what I called and classify as “professional mentality.”

 

Professional mentality has been conspicuously absent and lacking in chaplaincy trainings and orientations. Chaplains were made to believe for years that this was so because they were designed to offer humanitarian services to the public.

 

This claim is not only false, but also misleading and mischievous as such claims demonstrate the level of ignorance on the part of chaplaincy leadership in the past years.

 

Lack of professional mentality has actually been discovered to be the bane of profitable development of chaplaincy in this part of the world. Of a truth, chaplaincy profession is contended amongst professionals that are classified as service industry professions or help professions such as legal profession, medical profession, radiographic professionals, accountancy profession etc.

 

For example

 

1.   Medical doctors usually refer to radiographic centers or departments for diagnostic examinations which will help confirm the diagnosis made by medical doctors. The radiographic practioners offer their professional services in support of medical professionals’ services. The professional mentality of radiographers makes this assessment possible.

 

2.   Medical doctors also do make referrals to medical science laboratory professionals, patients who require laboratory diagnosis to assist medical practioners in confirming medical diagnosis for treatment and care of their patients.This is also professional mentality because of the mentality inculcated in medical laboratory services.

 

Chaplains must of necessity shun wrong orientations, embrace and develop professional mentality to enable them take their rightful places in the scheme of things. God bless you all!

 

Chap. Prof. David Mike-Jacobs

Certified Chaplaincy Educator

3^rd Oct, AD2020