CHAPLAIN RESIDENT JOB DESCRIPTION

When patients face end-of-life decisions, advanced directives, or sudden loss, unmet spiritual needs can deepen distress and strain care outcomes. The Chaplain Resident steps into that gap, providing structured pastoral care within acute hospital settings under the accreditation framework of the Association for Clinical Pastoral Education. Genuine ministry. The role sits within the Spiritual Care department, functioning as both a direct care provider and an active participant in an ACPE-accredited residency program that shapes clinical pastoral competency over one to two years.

As the Chaplain Resident, you deliver spiritual and emotional care to patients, families, and hospital staff while fulfilling the educational requirements of a Clinical Pastoral Education residency. You operate across inpatient units on a rotating on-call schedule, reporting to the Spiritual Care department director and collaborating daily with interdisciplinary clinical teams.

Career Impact: Completing an ACPE-accredited residency establishes verifiable clinical pastoral credentials recognized across hospital systems nationwide, opening pathways toward Board Certified Chaplain status.

Business Impact: Patients navigating DNR decisions, grief, and spiritual crisis depend on timely pastoral intervention that reduces emotional burden on nursing staff and supports whole-person care outcomes.

Growth Opportunity: Supervisory residency tracks within the ACPE framework allow high-performing residents to move into educator roles, expanding scope from direct care to program leadership and intern supervision.

• Assess spiritual, religious, emotional, and relational needs of patients and families to develop individualized plans of care.
• Provide pastoral counseling and sacramental ministry to patients, families, and staff in alignment with each person's faith tradition.
• Respond to all codes, deaths, and clinical emergencies through 24-hour on-call rotation including weekends and holidays.
• Document all spiritual care interactions in the patient medical record and departmental logs to ensure care continuity.
• Conduct worship services, memorial services, and ceremonies of blessing, prayer, and meditation as assigned by the department.
• Collaborate with interdisciplinary clinical teams to integrate spiritual care into the broader patient care plan.
• Liaise with community clergy and faith representatives to fulfill the spiritual care needs of patients from diverse traditions.
• Participate in ACPE educational seminars and weekly supervision sessions to advance pastoral identity and clinical competency.

• Bachelor's degree in theology, divinity, or a related field, or equivalent work experience.
• One or more years of clinical pastoral education residency experience, with demonstrated completion of at least one ACPE unit.
• Active faith group endorsement or documented support from a recognized religious body.
• Knowledge of ACPE standards and ability to establish learning goals within the accredited program framework.
• Competency in spiritual assessment, pastoral counseling, and ministry across diverse faith traditions.
• Adherence to the Code of Ethics of the Association of Professional Chaplains or the National Association of Catholic Chaplains.
• Emotional capacity to sustain performance in a high-acuity healthcare environment involving trauma, grief, and end-of-life care.

• Master of Divinity degree completed or in progress from an accredited seminary or theological institution.
• Two or more years of ACPE residency with demonstrated readiness for supervisory or educator track candidacy.
• Experience providing clinical ethics consultation or guidance on advanced directives and DNR decisions.
• Demonstrated ability to supervise and mentor chaplain interns within an accredited CPE program structure.

• Caseload volume per week, reflecting consistent coverage of assigned inpatient units and on-call responses.
• On-call response time to codes and deaths, measured against departmental standard for chaplain availability.
• ACPE competency goal completion rate across each residency unit, evaluated by the certified educator.
• Documentation compliance rate for spiritual care visits recorded in the patient medical record.
• Interdisciplinary team integration score, based on care conference participation and referral follow-through.

• Base Salary Range: $40,000 to $52,000 annually, typical for first- or second-year hospital residency
• Bonus: Uncommon at residency level; occasional merit recognition within larger health systems
• Equity: Not applicable for this role and seniority level
• Health Benefits: Medical, dental, and vision coverage standard for hospital employees
• PTO: 10 to 15 days annually, plus observed holidays covered through on-call rotation compensation
• Common Perks: Continuing education support, ACPE unit funding, hospital chapel access, and chaplaincy conference reimbursement

Figures are estimates based on general US market benchmarks and may be outdated. Adjust based on location, company size, and seniority level.

Employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other characteristic protected under applicable federal, state, or local law. Candidates requiring a reasonable accommodation during the application or hiring process should notify the hiring team in writing. A background check, including verification of any required faith endorsements or credentials, is a condition of employment. All applicants must be authorized to work in the United States prior to hire.

The Chaplain Resident delivers spiritual and pastoral care to patients, families, and hospital staff while advancing clinical ministry competency through ACPE-accredited training, including guidance on end-of-life decisions, advanced directives, and clinical ethics. Reporting to the Spiritual Care department and collaborating with the professional hospital staff, the Chaplain Resident supports whole-person care outcomes across inpatient settings.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide spiritual and pastoral care and counseling for patients, families, and staff.
• Participate in educational programs according to the standards of ACPE.
• Consult with and participate in patient care with the professional hospital staff.
• Offer support and guidance in end of life decisions, advanced directives, DNR, and clinical ethics.
• Conduct memorial and funeral services and perform wedding ceremonies as assigned.
• Supervise and coordinate interns and residents under the supervision of ACPE faculty as assigned.
• Promote individual professional growth by meeting requirements for mandatory and continuing education and skills competency.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science degree, with a Master of Divinity degree or equivalent experience.
• Complete a minimum of one year residency, with two years preferred for supervisory roles.
• Demonstrate knowledge of ACPE standards and ability to establish goals for specialty learning.
• Maintain faith group endorsement or support and established pastoral identity and experience.
• Demonstrate basic competency as a minister with skills in spiritual and pastoral care and the behavioral sciences.
• Meet ACPE Southwest Region certification committee requirements within designated timeframes.

Embedded within the hospital Spiritual Care department, the Chaplain Resident provides pastoral care to patients, families, and staff while fulfilling the curriculum requirements of the Clinical Pastoral Education program, including 24-hour on-call coverage and community clergy liaison work. Working closely with hospital staff and interdisciplinary teams, the Chaplain Resident helps fulfill the institution's dual mission of patient care and professional education.

Core Functions

• Assess spiritual, religious, emotional, and relational needs of patients, families, and staff and implement a plan of care.
• Provide in-house on-call coverage on a 24-hour, 7-day-a-week basis by responding to all codes, deaths, and emergencies.
• Provide leadership for worship services to help ensure that worship needs of patients, families, and staff are met.
• Provide sacramental ministry to patients, families, and staff if qualified to do so.
• Develop and maintain professional relationships with hospital staff to integrate the Clinical Pastoral Education program.
• Act as a liaison for patients, staff, and community clergy to fulfill the department's public relations commitment.

Qualifications and Experience

• Hold a baccalaureate degree.
• Master of Divinity completed preferred.
• Have a minimum of one year of experience.
• Demonstrate knowledge of CPE responsibilities and standards.
• Demonstrate commitment to patient care, customer service, safety, cost efficiency, and quality standards.

Reporting to the Department Director, the Chaplain Resident makes consistent spiritual care visits to patients, families, and hospital staff while maintaining accountability for care documentation and on-call availability across weekends, overnights, and observed holidays. Partnering with the Spiritual Care team and interdisciplinary colleagues, the Chaplain Resident advances whole-person care by adhering to the Code of Ethics of the Association of Professional Chaplains or the National Association of Catholic Chaplains.

Primary Duties

• Make spiritual care visits to patients, families, and hospital staff on a regular and consistent basis.
• Interact consistently in a warm manner that effectively invites others into pastoral relationships.
• Provide religious resources appropriate to the individual's tradition, including reading material, ceremonies or rituals, and arranging community faith representative visits.
• Maintain consistent accountability for spiritual care activities with staff, Spiritual Care team members, and the Department Director.
• Participate in the on-call pager rotation providing 24-hour availability including weekends, overnights, and observed holidays.
• Participate in educational seminars and personal and professional development related to spiritual care skills and knowledge.
• Adhere to the Code of Ethics for the Association of Professional Chaplains or the National Association of Catholic Chaplains.

Skills and Qualifications

• Demonstrate emotional capacity for intensive.
• Experiential learning in a stressful healthcare environment.
• Demonstrate positive communication and customer satisfaction skills.
• Demonstrate ability to think system-wide about spiritual care services and adjust to change.
• Use office technology systems effectively.