Chaplain Full Time

Company Description

At Northwestern Medicine, every patient interaction makes a difference in cultivating a positive workplace. This patient-first approach is what sets us apart as a leader in the healthcare industry. As an integral part of our team, you'll have the opportunity to join our quest for better healthcare, no matter where you work within the Northwestern Medicine system. At Northwestern Medicine, we pride ourselves on providing competitive benefits: from tuition reimbursement and loan forgiveness to 401(k) matching and lifecycle benefits, we take care of our employees. Ready to join our quest for better?

Job Description

The Chaplain reflects the mission, vision, and values of NM, adheres to the organization’s Code of Ethics and Corporate Compliance Program, and complies with all relevant policies, procedures, guidelines and all other regulatory and accreditation standards.

Chaplains support spiritual well-being by assisting patients, families, and staff members to cope with the uncertainty, stress, and critical demands of the hospital setting. Chaplains are patient-centered in their approach, supporting others to identify sources of meaning and hope by drawing upon the values, beliefs, religious resources, and spiritual practices that are most nourishing for them. Chaplains’ scope of practice includes: conducting spiritual assessments and tailoring interventions to the individualized needs of patients; providing emotional and spiritual support; guiding advance care planning conversations to advocate for patient needs and wishes; facilitating religious rituals, providing sacraments, and leading prayer, blessings, and guided meditations; serving as a liaison to community clergy; and collaborating on clinical cases, ethics discussions, and hospital initiatives as an active member of the inter-professional team. 

The chaplain reflects the mission, vision, and values of NM, adheres to the organization’s Code of Ethics and Corporate Compliance Program, and complies with all relevant policies, procedures, guidelines, and all other regulatory and accreditation standards. 

Provides spiritual care to patients, families, and staff: 

• Provides compassionate spiritual care to patients and families of all backgrounds through direct visitation, and by telephone, as needed. 

• Conducts a spiritual assessment, provides appropriate interventions, and develops a care plan. 

• Consults with the interdisciplinary team when making an assessment and coordinating the plan of care. 

• Facilitates meaning-making conversations, inclusive of, but not limited to, suffering, grief, and loss. 

• Documents all patient/family encounters in the medical record. 

• Incorporates the patient’s support network, i.e., family, friends, religious community, etc., when appropriate and possible. 

• Guides advance care planning conversations and supports patients to apply their values in decision-making. 

• Serves as a resource to staff regarding advance directives and ethical issues. 

• Provides supportive care to staff via one-on-one consultation and group debriefings. 

• Contributes to a culture of safety by utilizing safety tools and being alert to practices and processes that could benefit from quality improvement initiatives. 

Provides Spiritual Leadership: 

• Provides for the sacramental needs of patients, family members, and staff. 

• Officiates services and ceremonies for patients, family members, and staff as appropriate and upon request. 

• Creatively uses rituals and blessings with hospital staff to mark transitions and honor the sacredness of the work. Participates in the development and delivery of Spiritual Care programs for staff, students, and the community. 

Establishes and maintains professional and interdisciplinary relationships: 

• Works collaboratively with the interdisciplinary care team, advocating for patient wishes and wholeness. 

• Triages and prioritizes caseload using assessment and problem-solving skills. 

• Actively partners with clinical staff to identify spiritual care consults and referral opportunities. 

• Able to establish and maintain healthy, positive relationships with the Spiritual Care team. 

• Communicates in a timely, informed, and respectful manner with patients, families, colleagues, and leadership. 

• Educates staff regarding the role of the chaplain, as well as the practices and policies of the Spiritual Care Department. 

• Empowers and trains clinical staff to recognize and provide a supportive presence in responding to spiritual and emotional needs. 

• Makes efforts to alleviate staffing demands by demonstrating flexibility with clinical assignments and work schedules. 

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities required:  

• Experience to serve in clinical assignment areas throughout the hospital, based upon professional interest and departmental needs. 

• Serve in the role of preceptor and/or mentor for Spiritual Care & Education students. Partner with CPE Faculty in developing curriculum. 

• Provide support sessions for staff following stressful events as facilitator for the CDH Emotional Response Debrief Team. 

Qualifications

Required:

• Three years of spiritual care experience working in a hospital environment.
• Master's degree in Divinity, Theology, or Pastoral Studies from an accredited Theology or Divinity School.
• Must have 4 units of accredited Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE).

Preferred:

• Certified or certification eligible and working toward certification as a Board-Certified Chaplain in the Association of Professional Chaplains, the National Association of Catholic Chaplains, the National Association of Jewish Chaplains, or a parallel cognate group in the area of spiritual care or pastoral counseling. 

Additional Information

Northwestern Medicine is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate in hiring or employment on the basis of age, sex, race, color, religion, national origin, gender identity, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation or any other protected status.