Chaplain - PRN

Ochsner Health; Meridian (MS); On-site; USD 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

Ochsner Health is seeking a compassionate individual to provide spiritual care to patients and families in Meridian, Mississippi. The role involves offering support during emergencies and assisting in end-of-life decisions.

The ideal candidate will possess clinical pastoral education and experience in spiritual caregiving, along with strong communication skills. Responsibilities include crisis intervention and maintaining relationships with healthcare teams to ensure holistic support.

Qualifications

• 1 year of experience in spiritual caregiving in an interfaith environment.
• Knowledge of psychological and sociological disciplines.

Responsibilities

• Provide presence, comfort, and spiritual support during emergent calls.
• Facilitate decedent care responsibilities with families following patient deaths.
• Maintain collegial ministry relationships with the interdisciplinary team.
• Adapt communication style to patient needs.

Skills

Knowledge of different philosophical systems and religions

Effective verbal and written communication skills

Ability to provide spiritual care and support to a diverse population

Computer skills for data entry

Education

1 unit of Clinical Pastoral Education from ACPE or ICPT

Master’s in Divinity or equivalent

Job description

This job offers spiritual care to patients, families, staff, and visitors during emergent calls and as needed. Supports urgent requests, codes, and moments of death and assists in end‑of‑life decision making.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential duties.

Education

• Required – 1 unit of Clinical Pastoral Education from ACPE or ICPT, or 5 years of healthcare chaplaincy experience.
• Preferred – Master’s in Divinity or equivalent.

Work Experience

• Required – 1 year of experience in spiritual caregiving in an interfaith and culturally diverse environment.

Certifications

• Preferred – Ordination, Commission, or Ecclesiastical Endorsement (as determined by board certifying entities).

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs)

• Knowledge of different philosophical systems and religions and ability to be conversant in ethical dialogue.
• Working knowledge of psychological and sociological disciplines.
• Ability to provide spiritual care and support to a diverse population.
• Computer skills and dexterity for data entry and retrieval of information.
• Proficient with Windows‑style applications and keyboard.
• Effective verbal and written communication skills and the ability to present information clearly and professionally to varying levels of individuals.

Job Duties

• Provides presence, comfort, and spiritual support to patients, families, visitors, and staff during emergent calls, including crisis and death, as well as routinely on assigned units and as needed.
• Facilitates decedent care administrative responsibilities with families and staff following patient deaths as required by location.
• Maintains collegial ministry relationships with the interdisciplinary team and spiritual care team.
• Adapts behavior to the specific patient population, including respect for privacy, method of introduction, adapting explanation of services or procedures, requesting permissions, and communication style.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Physical and Environmental Demands

• The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met to perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
• Light Work – Exerting up to 20 pounds of force occasionally or up to 10 pounds of force frequently, and/or a negligible amount of force constantly. Includes walking or standing to a significant degree or working at a production rate pace entailing the constant pushing and/or pulling of materials.
• Normal routine involves no exposure to blood, body fluid or tissue, but exposure or potential for exposure may occur.
• The incumbent works with patients who have known or suspected communicable diseases and may enter isolation rooms. There may be an occupational risk for exposure to communicable diseases.
• Because the incumbent works within a healthcare setting, there may be occupational risk for exposure to hazardous medications or hazardous waste within the environment through receipt, transport, storage, preparation, dispensing, administration, cleaning, or disposal of contaminated waste. The risk level of exposure may increase depending on the essential job duties of the role.

Equal Opportunity Statement

The employer is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, or disability status.