Interfaith Chaplain - Part Time

It takes a lot of very smart, hard-working and talented people to provide the level of care that we give to our patients. Tufts Medical Center is an internationally respected academic medical center and we pride ourselves not only on the sophistication of the care we deliver, but the compassionate way in which we provide it. And that starts with our employees.

This position is responsible for meeting with patients, family and staff who are facing spiritual and religious issues concerning the health care they are receiving or providing.

PRINCIPALDUTIESAND ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Primary pastoral contact for the specific units assigned within the Medical Center.
• Supports patients and families facing difficult medical choices.
• Continues some contact with the family when a patient dies.
• Meets with patients newly admitted to the hospital to inform them of the availability of Pastoral Care Services and to assess the need for pastoral care follow up.
• Provides religious support to preoperative surgical patients and their families.
• Provides pastoral care input to the multidisciplinary approach to patient care issues and problems.
• Helps provide 24 hours pastoral care support to families and patients to help them deal with anxiety provoked through hospitalization and/or to deal with issues of death and dying.
• Counsels patients and their families who are dealing with issues and decisions, which require religious and spiritual support.
• Refers patients and staff to religious resources to assist them in understanding religious concepts as they relate to illness.
• Helps to provide regular religious services for patients and staff within the hospital.
• Helps to provide special religious services on appropriate holidays and special occasions.
• Collaborates with other staff members to determine the best plan of care.
• Refers to other hospital service departments when pastoral care is inappropriate or inadequate to meet patients' needs.
• Supports patients and their families through the difficulties of healthcare decision-making.
• Contacts families after patients' death by attending wakes, funerals, memorial services, making home telephone calls and sending bereavement notes.

Supervisory Duties:

• Helps, plan and facilitate family meetings.
• Conducts reflection experiences with nursing and medical staff members.
• Plans and coordinates interfaith worship experiences for staff and families and patients.
• Performs other similar and related duties as required or directed.

JOBKNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS

Possesses and applies the skills and knowledge necessary to provide care to patients throughout the life span, with consideration of aging process, human development stages and cultural patterns in each step of the care process.

• The ability to listen and respond creatively, hopefully and compassionately to patients, families and staff in threatening and stressful circumstances.
• The ability to translate medical information into understandable choices for patients and their families.
• Possesses basic understanding of medical terminology and a working knowledge of hospital policies and procedures.
• The ability to work under stress and to handle information of a highly confidential nature.
• Possesses and applies the skills and knowledge necessary to provide care to patients throughout the life span, with consideration of aging processes, human development stages and cultural patterns in each step of the care process.

AGE SPECIFIC COMPETENCIES

Has the skills and knowledge to provide care to the age groups of the population served including:

• Knowledge of growth and development
• Ability to interpret age specific data and response to care
• Provide age appropriate communication

EDUCATION

• Work requires a level of knowledge generally acquired through a Master's degree within the field of pastoral education. Must have 4 CPE Units.

EXPERIENCE

• Two years of progressively more responsible experience in hospital pastoral care in order to deal with issues related to a seriously ill patient population.

WORKING CONDITIONS/PHYSICAL DEMANDS

• A Chaplain will work in normal office work environment, inpatient and outpatient clinic care areas, with potential accidental exposure to hazardous chemicals, sick patients, bodily substances.

• Work will require occasional computer keying.