Chaplain

Where You’ll Work

St. Thomas More Hospital, a 25-bed Critical Access Hospital, is the cornerstone of health care services for Fremont County and surrounding southern Colorado communities. St. Thomas More offers 24 hour emergency and trauma services; inpatient acute care; intensive care; labor, delivery, and nursery care; multi-modal diagnostic imaging; inpatient and outpatient surgical services; rehabilitation services; cardiopulmonary rehab and diagnostics; sleep studies; an infusion center; wound care; and a community blood bank. We are on a mission to provide high quality care with zero harm to patients and employees. Our board-certified physicians specialize in emergency medicine, internal medicine, urology, bariatric services, obstetrics/gynecology services, general surgery, orthopedic surgery and osteopathic treatment. Employees of St. Thomas More enjoy the camaraderie of a close-knit community hospital, the relaxed feel of small-town life and an affordable cost of living in a town rich in culture and historic architecture. Located about 50 miles from Colorado Springs at the foothills of the Rocky Mountains and the mouth of the Royal Gorge, locals and visitors alike enjoy this area for some of the state's best hiking, wildlife, rafting, camping, fishing, climbing, and mountain biking. Canon City has an assortment of restaurants, and breweries, and Farmer's Markets in the summer months.

Job Summary and Responsibilities

As our Chaplain, you will collaborate with the Spiritual Care team to provide essential pastoral care services to patients and their family members, embodying our organizational mission and core values.

Every day you will respond to urgent situations such as codes or death at the request or referral of administrative coordinators, nurses, or family, offering comfort and spiritual support, and actively contributing to a compassionate healthcare environment.

To be successful in this role, you will possess profound compassion, strong interpersonal and communication skills, the ability to respond effectively in crisis situations, and an unwavering commitment to providing spiritual care consistent with the mission and values of our organization.

• Assesses the spiritual needs of patients to assist the healing process as part of a holistic team – ability to conduct a multifaceted assessment of patient.
• Understands ministry to people who are ill, in crisis, and those who are dying, and those in their immediate circle of support; ministers effectively to such people.
• Provides focused attention to patients, loved ones, and staff without agenda, i.e., effectively listens and responds to patients, loved ones, and staff.
• Assists patients, loved ones, and staff in articulating their struggles as well as their inner resources of strength, meaning, faith, and hope, i.e., ability to explore options and help patients identify and manage next steps on their journey.
• Is able to enable an experience of God's nearness, safety, and comfort.
• Appropriately responds to all Code Blues and other emergencies, verifying patient identity, notifying family, coordinating with staff, family, and legal authorities.

Job Requirements

Required

• Bachelor's degree in spiritual care, Arts or equivalent degree from college/university or institution accredited by the applicant's institutional faith body
• Current Board Certified Chaplain documentation
• Completion of Roman Catholic deacon training and ordination is also acceptable if applicant does not have a bachelor's degree
• Bachelor's degree in unrelated field is allowed if applicant has a Master's degree in spiritual care related field or equivalent, or is currently enrolled in such a Master's degree program
• Affiliation with an institutional faith body.
• At hire, applicant must have at least one (1) unit of CPE or enroll in our internal Clinical Pastoral Orientation and complete one (1) unit of CPE within one (1) year.
• If the chaplain has less than four (4) units of CPE, they must agree to complete additional units in a CPE program (one unit at least every six months until fulfilling the requirement of 4 units) from a nationally recognized accrediting agency listed by the U.S. Department of Education
• Fifty hours of continuing education in chaplaincy related topics are required on an annual basis, except when enrolled in CPE or preparing for certification
• Chaplains who have completed four (4) units of CPE are expected to become board certified within 12 months; Exceptions must be approved by their manager
• Board certification organizations include: National Association of Catholic Chaplains, Board of Chaplaincy Certification Inc, Association of Professional Chaplains, Spiritual Care association (4 units), The Association of Certified Christian Chaplains, or equivalent
• Chaplains are required to maintain board certification currency with an organization listed above
• Valid Driver's License for Home Health and Hospice positions only

Preferred

• Formal study in a theologically related field
• Master's degree in spiritual care related field or equivalent degree from accredited college/university or institution accredited by the applicant's institutional faith body
• One year in pastoral ministry