Hospital Chaplain

Job Summary

The Chaplain provides emotional, spiritual, and pastoral support to patients, families, and hospital staff during times of illness, crisis, or transition. As a member of the interdisciplinary care team, the Chaplain facilitates spiritual care services tailored to individual needs and preferences, regardless of faith tradition or belief system. This role also serves as a resource for employee wellness and supports a culture of compassion and holistic care throughout the organization.

Essential Functions

• Provides spiritual and emotional support to patients and families facing illness, grief, end-of-life care, and crisis situations.

• Participates in interdisciplinary rounds and collaborates with the care team to support the holistic needs of patients.

• Offers crisis intervention and spiritual counseling to patients, visitors, and staff during times of trauma, loss, or significant stress.

• Provides spiritual care in a respectful and inclusive manner, honoring cultural and religious diversity.

• Facilitates rituals, prayer, blessings, or sacraments as requested by patients or families.

• Assists with advance care planning conversations, end-of-life discussions, and bereavement support in collaboration with clinical teams.

• Supports employee well-being through spiritual debriefings, routine staff rounding, and availability for one-on-one conversations.

• Maintains relationships with local faith communities and clergy, coordinating community visits or spiritual services when appropriate.

• Documents spiritual care encounters in the electronic medical record according to policy.

• Performs other duties as assigned.

• Maintains regular and reliable attendance.

• Complies with all policies and standards.

Qualifications

• Master of Divinity or equivalent graduate degree from an accredited theological institution required

• Minimum of one (1) year of residency preferred

• 0-1 years of experience providing spiritual care in a healthcare, hospice, or crisis setting required

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Knowledge of spiritual and emotional needs related to illness, trauma, loss, and end-of-life care.

• Ability to provide respectful, compassionate care across diverse faiths, cultures, and belief systems.

• Effective communication and interpersonal skills to work collaboratively with patients, families, staff, and community clergy.

• Crisis intervention and active listening skills.

• Familiarity with electronic documentation and confidentiality standards.

• Understanding of ethical principles related to patient rights, dignity, and spiritual autonomy.

Licenses and Certifications

• BCC - Board Certified Chaplain through a recognized chaplaincy organization (e.g., APC, NACC, NAJC) required

• Completion of at least four (4) units of Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) preferred

Equal Employment Opportunity

This organization does not discriminate in any way to deprive any person of employment opportunities or otherwise adversely affect the status of any employee because of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, genetic information, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, citizenship, veteran status, or military or uniformed services, in accordance with all applicable governmental laws and regulations. In addition, the facility complies with all applicable federal, state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment. This applies to all terms and conditions of employment including, but not limited to: hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training. If you are an applicant with a mental or physical disability who needs a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process, contact the director of Human Resources at the facility to which you are seeking employment; Simply go to to obtain the main telephone number of the facility and ask for Human Resources.