Hospital Chaplain

Department Overview

OHSU is Oregon’s only public academic health center. We are a system of hospitals and clinics across Oregon and southwest Washington. We are an institution of higher learning, with schools of medicine, nursing, pharmacy, dentistry and public health – and with a network of campuses and partners throughout Oregon. We are a national research hub, with thousands of scientists developing lifesaving therapies and deeper understanding. We are a statewide economic engine and Portland’s largest employer. And as a public organization, we provide services for the most vulnerable Oregonians, and outreach to improve health in communities across the state.

Chaplain offers spiritual and emotional support to patients, family members, and staff. Working knowledge of primary religious beliefs and faith practices. Partners with faith communities as appropriate for patient/family spiritual care. Offers ritual, sacrament, prayer, readings, as appropriate to patient/patient support system and hospital protocol. Facilitates grief support and participates in end-of-life and palliative care. Collaborates with hospital/university staff.

Function/Duties of Position

Provides spiritual counsel and emotional support to patients, patient families and staff:

• Facilitate support by outside clergy/spiritual support system as requested
• Participates in interdisciplinary rounds as appropriate
• Participates in care conferences as a member of the interdisciplinary team
• Responds to urgent/emergent requests, including after-hours call
• Documents assessments and support provided in the IHR

Further provides spiritual care, emotional support and education by participating in

• Specifically identified memorial services
• Appropriate grief/illness forums
• Student shadowing
• Serving on healthcare/university committees as assigned
• Supervision of spiritual care volunteers
• Service on ethics committees and Critical Incident Stress Debriefing Team if qualified/trained

Represents hospital chaplaincy to community groups through

• Facilitating access for faith specific volunteers
• Specifically identified memorial services

Required Qualifications

• Master’s Degree in Divinity, Theology, or Ethics. Completion of 4 units of Clinical Pastoral Education (or in process) and/or possibly equivalency of Healthcare Chaplains Ministry Association; AND
• 2 years of clinical chaplaincy experience.   
• Professional membership in the following associations is preferred: 
  • Association of Professional Chaplains,
  • National Association of Catholic Chaplains,
  • National Association of Jewish Chaplains,
• Healthcare Chaplains Ministry Association, Denominational Endorsement and/or Ordination

Job Related Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (Competencies):

• Working knowledge of Scripture and of primary religious beliefs and faith practices
• Provides compassionate and non-anxious presence
• Developed self-awareness with mindfulness of projection, transference and self-disclosure
• Able to provide psychological/spiritual assessment
• Actively listens and able to promote a non-judgmental spiritual care environment
• Provides spiritual care for all patients, regardless of age, race, religion, creed, color, ethnicity, national origin, culture, language, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, physical or mental disability, socioeconomic status, marital status, military or reserve status or diagnosis
• Documentation of significant events in EPIC
• Cultivates team rapport with fellow chaplains and staff

Preferred Qualifications

• Documented specialty training or certification in Palliative Care spiritual assessment
• Knowledge in Epic 
• Fluent in one of OHSU’s threshold languages (currently Spanish, Arabic, Vietnamese, Russian)
• Existing certification with one of the listed professional organizations

Additional Details

The primary schedule is Saturday and Sunday, 8:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., and includes a required rotation of on-call duties on evenings, nights, weekends, and holidays. There will be mandatory 1-2 hour monthly meeting(s) on a weekday during regular business hours, and availability Monday through Friday for mandatory education is occasionally required. This role is considered a critical function and requires working in the office during Modified Operations, which may occur due to conditions such as inclement weather, local crises, pandemics, and natural disasters.

All are welcome

Oregon Health & Science University values a diverse and culturally competent workforce. We are proud of our commitment to being an equal opportunity, affirmative action organization that does not discriminate against applicants on the basis of any protected class status, including disability status and protected veteran status. Individuals with diverse backgrounds and those who promote diversity and a culture of inclusion are encouraged to apply. To request reasonable accommodation contact the Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity Department at 503-494-5148 or aaeo@ohsu.edu.As an organization devoted to the health and well-being of people in Oregon and beyond, OHSU requires its employees to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19.