Healthcare Chaplains
Our platform is preached in waiting rooms and bedside chairs. My congregation asks big questions like “Does God see my pain?”
Healthcare chaplains sit beside patients and families who are looking for hope in times of pain. They share the warmth of Christ’s love in moments when life can seem dark and discouraging. Healthcare chaplains serve patients and medical staff in many different settings--from hospitals, hospices, mental health hospitals, and nursing homes.
Routine duties: notify family members of a death, comfort dying patients, conduct funerals, serve communion, serve as a liaison between medical staff and families, represent Christ to all cultures and religions.
Hospital Chaplain
A hospital chaplain offers spiritual guidance and pastoral care to patients and their families. As representatives of religious traditions, chaplains in hospitals and medical centers use the insights and principles of psychology, religion, spirituality, and theology. Chaplains support and encourage people of all religious faiths and are familiar with beliefs across many different cultures. They customize their approach based on an individual patient's background, age, or medical condition.
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Hospital chaplains have a variety of roles and responsibilities. They work with individuals, couples, families, and small groups offering support and encouragement to people by providing:
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Crisis intervention
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Grief and bereavement counseling
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Family support counseling
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Staff counseling
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Presurgical and postsurgical counseling
Hospice Chaplain
Long Term Care Chaplain
Many skilled nursing facilities are in need of chaplains. Chaplains provide spiritual support for people living in the long term care such as nursing homes. Chaplains are sometimes overlooked as key players in nursing home care and as support for family members. What does a chaplain do and how can he or she be of help to family members?
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The chaplain’s main responsibility is to help people move into a different phase of life with their faith and spiritual practices intact. At most nursing homes across the United States, the people who live there come from a variety of faiths, but most of them have participated in some form of worship throughout their lifetime. The chaplain coordinates and often leads group meetings, is available for one-to-one ministry, and is on-call for end-of-life care and ministry to grieving families.
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Most of the time, chaplains lead worship services that include hymns, Bible reading, prayer, and a brief message. Other meetings may occur during the week such as small groups for prayer and Bible study sessions. The chaplain leads most of these activities, but also welcomes leaders from local churches, especially to lead specialized services
Where do I Get started !
​When you pursue a career as a chaplain, you’re not just joining an organization, you’re joining a team of people. We’re here to help you. At any point along the way, contact the Chaplaincy team at
502-890-1218