Chaplain - Lourdes Hospital

Mercy Health BSMH • Paducah, KY

6d

About The Position

The Chaplain II ministers to patients, families, and staff regarding religious and spiritual needs under the direction of the Director of Mission or Director of Spiritual Care. As part of the multidisciplinary team, the chaplain provides spiritual care and emotional support in the context of illness, crisis, loss, and death, while embodying Mercy Health’s mission and core values. The role serves people of diverse faiths in a non-proselytizing manner and supports Catholic sacramental needs as well as other religious and ritual needs.

The chaplain applies advanced pastoral care and counseling techniques, conducts spiritual care assessments and care planning, contributes a specialized perspective to clinical care conferences, and coordinates appropriate resources and referrals. The position includes 24/7 call expectations, including holidays and weekends.

Requirements

• Master’s degree in a related field such as Religious Studies, Divinity, or Theology.
• Completion of 3 units of Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE).
• At least 1 year of experience as a chaplain in a healthcare setting.
• Ecclesial endorsement from a church body to be involved in hospital ministry.
• Skills and abilities include active listening, ethical practice, clinical pastoral care, collaboration, communication, crisis counseling and intervention, empathy, flexibility, interpersonal skills, healthcare and medical ethics, human relations, interfaith dialogue, ministering to diverse populations, organization, pastoral care and counseling, pastoral ministries and theology, planning, presentation, public relations, relationship building, religious studies, spiritual care and assessment, spiritual support, teamwork, theological reflection, verbal and written communication, facilitating theological reflection, Catholic Social Teaching, leading and coordinating prayer and worship services, and teaching an understanding of diverse theology and ecclesiology.

Nice To Haves

• Doctoral degree in Theology or Philosophy.
• Completion of lay ministry or the ordination process.

Responsibilities

• Recognize and respond to the sacramental needs of the Catholic population.
• Provide for religious and ritual needs of people from diverse faith groups.
• Provide basic emotional and spiritual support to patients, visitors, the community, and fellow associates in a non-proselytizing manner.
• Collaborate with chaplaincy colleagues and the interdisciplinary team, making appropriate referrals.
• Provide pastoral care and counseling using advanced techniques, including emotional processing, reframing meanings and perspectives, and facilitating deeper theological and personal reflection.
• Contribute a specialized perspective at clinical care conferences regarding the spiritual and emotional aspects of holistic care.
• Consult on cases involving significant relational, familial, religious, or cultural dynamics and support appropriate spiritual care outcomes.
• Conduct full-spectrum spiritual care assessments and care planning.
• Provide spiritual interventions in end-of-life situations and crises, including Code Blue, death, and trauma situations.
• Coordinate pastoral care resources for complex patient care situations and collaborate with departmental leaders on referrals.
• Provide advance care planning consultations, elicit care preferences, and document advance medical directives.
• Communicate clinically relevant information professionally in the electronic medical record to support interdisciplinary care.
• Demonstrate knowledge of the Ethical and Religious Directives of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops and follow BSMH policies as a Catholic healthcare organization.
• Participate in 24/7 call, including holidays and weekends.

Benefits

• Competitive pay, incentives, referral bonuses, and a 403(b) with employer contributions when eligible.
• Medical, dental, vision, and prescription coverage; HSA/FSA options; life insurance; mental health resources; and discounts.
• Paid time off, parental and FMLA leave, short- and long-term disability, and backup care for children and elders.
• Tuition assistance, professional development, and continuing education support.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level