Clinical Chaplain

Hackensack Meridian Health invites applicants to join a team dedicated to compassionate patient care. Our culture is rooted in connection, collaboration and a commitment to community uplift. Competitive benefits are just the beginning; we support one another and show up for our community.

Clinical Chaplain provides compassionate pastoral ministry to all patients/residents, family members, and team members. The Chaplain supports patients in crisis, anxiety, grief and suffering, facilitates communication with caregivers, and serves as a subject matter expert in pastoral care matters. A working knowledge of customs and practices from a diversity of world religions and faith practices is required to assure respectful spiritual care.

• Supports spiritual and emotional needs based on initial and ongoing spiritual assessments and documents actions taken and plan of care in the patient’s or resident’s medical record.
• Develops patient spiritual care plans, collaborates with the care team by notating in the patient chart, and conducts in‑services for multi‑disciplinary members on issues relating to assessing and meeting spiritual care needs.
• With patient/resident consent, acts as a liaison between family and clinical team during crisis by supporting and comforting family members.
• Provides intensive and extensive pastoral care and spiritual counseling to patients/residents, families and team members during and after critical events.
• Collaborates with the Palliative Care Team and attends palliative care team meetings to provide optimal care and support during each phase of the patient’s end‑of‑life process.
• Conducts patient/resident rounds to assess and support spiritual needs and collaborates with the care team on care planning.
• Visits patients/residents, and families who request pastoral care services.
• Participates in family conferences to support the patient/resident, family, physicians and team members.
• Coordinates the use of local clergy and ministers from various faiths and denominations when appropriate.
• Provides the theological framework to assure spiritual care can be delivered through the coordinated efforts of the volunteer clergy network.
• Collaborates with volunteer service leaders on screening and training pastoral care volunteers.
• Participates in committee meetings to offer expertise, guidance and education in pastoral care matters concerning religion, culture and theology.
• Initiates and leads team members in emotional reflection at interdisciplinary team meetings as requested and clinically relevant.
• Provides liturgical/sacramental ministry of prayer, communion, emergency baptisms, memorial services, hospital celebrations, ceremonies and services.
• Proactively coordinates and leads didactics or educational training relating to pastoral care for all care teams.
• Uses religious heritage, theological understanding and behavioral sciences to minister to persons and groups.
• Follows the highest standards of ethical conduct as outlined by the Association of Clinical Pastoral Educators.
• Maintains medical records, reports and data for regulatory reporting and continuous quality improvement.
• May be required to work weekends and carry a beeper or similar device to respond to emergencies for pastoral support.
• Identifies the needs of the patient population served and modifies and delivers care specific to those needs (age, culture, language, hearing, visual impairments, etc.).
• Adheres to the standards identified in the medical center's organizational competencies and accrediting agency best practices.

• Successfully completed two units of Clinical Pastoral Education from a nationally recognized and accredited organization.
• Commit to participate in professional training toward certification(s) within 12 months of hire (e.g., board‑certified clinical chaplain, supervisor in training).
• Bachelor's degree or equivalent in pastoral studies, theology, religious studies or related ministry program.
• Three years of pastoral ministry experience as Lead Pastor or assisting minister.
• Two years of experience working in a clinical environment with patients and families facing…