Chaplain

Community Hospital San Bernardino; San Bernardino (CA); On-site; USD 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

Dignity Health - Community Hospital of San Bernardino seeks a Chaplain to lead spiritual care for patients, families and staff. The role provides compassionate presence, counseling and rituals across crisis and end-of-life situations.

You will collaborate with the Mission and Spiritual Care Director and the Palliative Care Coordinator to develop holistic care processes and advocate for spiritual needs within a multidisciplinary team.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's level or advanced study in theology or equivalent.
• Ordained with faculties given by the Ordinary of the local Diocese; Clinical Pastoral Education.
• Minimum of one year of pastoral experience.
• Board Certified Chaplain APC within 12 months or equivalent; Certified Supervisor of Clinical Pastoral Education within 12 months or equivalent; Board Certified Chaplain BCC within 12 months or equivalent; Catholic Chaplain within 12 months or equivalent; BCC - Jewish Chaplain within 12 months or equivalent; BCC - Canadian Spiritual within 12 months or equivalent.

Responsibilities

• Provides spiritual support and counseling to patients, families, hospital staff and medical staff.
• Develops, implements and maintains comprehensive palliative care processes for patients, families and staff.
• Participates in patient assessment, documentation, consultation and ethical decision making with emphasis on palliative care patients.
• Assesses pastoral/sacramental needs of patients, families and personnel and makes referrals and follow-up as needed.
• Responds to referrals to make a spiritual care assessment and provides follow-up care and documentation.
• Responds to Code Blue or crises and provides spiritual and emotional support; liaises with medical and nursing staff.

Education

Bachelors Of Arts advanced study in theology or equivalent

Bachelors Of Science advanced study in theology or equivalent

Masters Other Divinity equivalent

Job description

Job Summary and Responsibilities

As our Chaplain, you will serve as a vital spiritual leader and compassionate caregiver within our hospital community, providing essential spiritual counseling and support to patients, families, and staff.

Every day, you will provide direct spiritual, religious, and existential care, offering compassionate presence, support, and appropriate rituals to patients, families, and staff, especially during times of crisis or grief. You will collaborate with the healthcare team to advocate for spiritual needs and integrate holistic care, ensuring respect for diverse beliefs.

To be successful in this role, you must be a highly compassionate individual, comfortable and skilled in engaging with people who may be emotional, panicked, stressed, or in pain. You'll need the proven ability to provide empathetic care, adapt to diverse spiritual needs, and communicate effectively within a multidisciplinary team.

• Provides spiritual support and counseling to patients, families, hospital staff and medical staff, taking special note of newly admitted, critically ill and those preparing for surgery.
• In conjunction with the Mission and Spiritual Care Director and the Palliative Care Coordinator, develops, implements and maintains comprehensive palliative care processes for patients, families and staff.
• Participates in patient assessment, documentation, consultation and ethical decision making with special emphasis on palliative care patients
• Assesses pastoral/sacramental needs of patients, families and personnel and make appropriate referrals and/or follow-up as needed
• Responds to all referrals to make a spiritual care assessment; provides appropriate follow-up care and documentation in department and medical records
• Responds to all Code Blue or crisis situations on assigned units and provides spiritual and emotional support to patients, family members, hospital staff, medical staff and other patients. Acts as a liaison with medical staff and nursing staff

Job Requirements

Required

• Bachelors Of Arts advanced study in theology or equivalent
• Bachelors Of Science advanced study in theology or equivalent
• Ordained and faculties given by the Ordinary of the local Diocese Clinical Pastoral Education
• Minimum of one (1) year of pastoral experience
• Board Certified Chaplain APC, within 12 - months or
• Certified Supervisor of Clinical Pastoral Education, within 12 - months or
• Board Certified Chaplain BCC, within 12 - months or
• Catholic Chaplain, within 12 - months or
• BCC - JEWISH CHAPLAIN, within 12 - months or
• BCC - CANADIAN SPIRITUAL, within 12 - months

Preferred

• Masters Other Divinity equivalent , upon hire and
• Four units of Clinical Pastoral Education , upon hire

Where You'll Work

Founded in 1910, Dignity Health - Community Hospital of San Bernardino is a 343-bed, acute care, nonprofit hospital. Serving over 75,000 patients annually, the hospital offers a full complement of services including a Level II NICU, maternity care and pediatrics, and behavioral health and long-term subacute care for adults and children.

Additionally, Community Hospital of San Bernardino has been recognized with the gold seal of approval by the Joint Commission, as an LGBTQ+ Healthcare Equality Leader by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation, and rated five stars for Children’s Subacute Center by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. In 2025, we were voted Best Hospital by Inland Empire Magazine.

Community Hospital of San Bernardino shares a legacy of humankindness with Dignity Health and CommonSpirit Health, one of the nation’s largest health care systems, dedicated to providing compassionate, high-quality, and affordable patient-centered care.

One Community. One Mission. One California