A quick look at a hospital position we all know about
, of course, but perhaps have never thought about
in detail.
One of those well-I-didn't-know-that kinds of threads. But it's also maybe useful-to-know stuff.
Quick facts, gathered from some websites:
There are over 7,140 hospital chaplains currently employed in the United States.
Percent of U. S. hospitals that have full-time chaplains: 60 %; the other 40 % rely on community and volunteer support, usually local ordained ministers, priests, rabbis, etc., who do it part time, or have none
68.4% are men, 31.6% are women.
The average hospital chaplain age is 51.
The most common ethnicity of hospital chaplains is: White (67.5%), followed by African American (12.1%), Hispanic or Latino (9.2%) and Asian (6.7%).
Average annual hospital chaplain salary: $49,423
States with most hospital chaplains, in order: California (276), Florida (207), Texas (181), New York (158), Pennsylvania (137).Current jobs available:
https://www.indeed.com/q-hospital-chaplain-jobs.html?vjk=fd3e5c756ca95af6From the Mayo Clinic website:
" ... chaplains in hospitals and medical centers use the insights and principles of psychology, religion, spirituality, and theology."
" ... are familiar with beliefs across many different cultures. They customize their approach based on an individual patient's background, age, or medical condition."
(Some of their duties) : crisis intervention, grief and bereavement counseling, family support counseling, staff counseling, presurgical and postsurgical counseling.
"Chaplains work in hospitals, mental health facilities, correctional institutions, children’s hospitals, hospice centers, and nursing homes ... with flexible schedules that include daytime, evening, night, holiday, and weekend shifts, along with on-call coverage."
"Common requirements for hospital chaplain jobs include: a bachelor's degree and master's degree in divinity, theology, religious studies, or a related field; completion of clinical pastoral education (CPE) units at a medical center accredited by the Association for Clinical Pastoral Education (ACPE); certification by the National Association of Catholic Chaplains, Association of Professional Chaplains, National Association of Jewish Chaplains, or a similar group; ordination, endorsement, or reference from a denomination or faith group."https://college.mayo.edu/academics/explore-health-care-careers/careers-a-z/hospital-chaplain/And from a cancer-specialty hospital website, MD Anderson:
"One of the biggest misconceptions about chaplains is that we're here to convert people to Christianity ... As a chaplain in a clinical setting, one of the first things you learn is that it's not about you, your beliefs or what you think. We're here to connect to our patients to meet whatever spiritual need they may have."
"While our chaplains do pray with patients, families and employees when requested, a greater part of their mission involves listening and connecting to patients, assessing spiritual distress, facilitating interventions when necessary, completing plans of care, leading religious observances throughout the year and teaching fellows as part of our accredited education program."
"Many cancer patients tell us that they feel a sense of loss -- they've lost their roles, their jobs, their energy and their plans for their futures," Stouter says. "Once we hear their stories and understand their spirituality, we're able to help them find meaning and purpose in light of what they've lost."https://www.mdanderson.org/cancerwise/how-our-chaplains-make-a-difference.h00-158905389.htmlA brief YouTube picture of what hospital chaplains do:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l6n6chrqx0aAnd an example of a hospital, UF Health Shands here in Gainesville, offering such services:
https://ufhealth.org/pastoral-servicesAgain, perhaps not a topic we will individually become engaged with at some point in our hospital experiences, but one that is perhaps useful to know some facts about
.