Pastoral Care

The Support and Services We Provide to Patients and Families

Pastoral care is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Our chaplains are trained to support people from all faith and spiritual traditions, as well as those who have no specific religious or spiritual belief. 

Specific services that chaplains provide include the following:

• Religious resources, including sacred texts
• Prayer
• Religious rituals, including baptism
• Emotional support during a difficult day
• Listening and non-judgmental presence when you need to process information or an experience, before or during surgery, or any time you need to talk
• Help with observing your own faith practices
• Assist with contacting clergy or faith leader, if desired
• Support during care conference
• Emotional support during traumas and code events
• Bereavement Support

If you would like to speak with a chaplain at any time during your stay, you can let anyone on your unit know and they can contact us at any time.

Monday – Friday between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., you can call our office at (614) 722-5250.

Where Chaplains Can Be Found

The 10 full time staff chaplains can be found Monday – Friday providing spiritual, religious and emotional support in the following areas:

• Hematology/Oncology
• Big Lots Behavioral Health Pavilion
• Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU)
• Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU)
• Ohio Fetal Medicine Collaborative
• Advanced Illness Management Team (AIM Team)
• Hospice
• Educating Chaplain Interns and Residents

Nationwide Children's Hospital Chapel

The Chapel, located in the main lobby, is a place where persons of all faiths, cultures and ages are welcome to come for spiritual renewal. This sanctuary offers hospitality for quiet and personal reflection and is designed to offer comfort and peace.

Worship Services

We have weekly services for patients, families and staff. Catholic mass, interdenominational services and Muslim prayer service are offered.

Due to COVID-19, we are currently unable to have chapel services in person. While we are unable to meet in person, Pastoral Care staff has provided recordings for your personal reflection, prayer practice or worship.

View Video Resources

Seasons for Healing Bereavement Program

Seasons for Healing is a Bereavement Program for all members of the family after the loss of a child. This program is designed to provide support and resources to all who have experienced the loss of a sibling, child or grandchild.

The program meets virtually on the second Thursday of each month from 6:30 to 8 p.m. If you have any questions or would like to participate, please contact the Pastoral Care Department at GriefSupport@NationwideChildrens.org.

Clinical Pastoral Education

The Department of Pastoral Care is accredited by The Association for Clinical Pastoral Education (ACPE) to offer pastoral education. This is an action/reflection process that is grounded in a person-centered approach to ministry. Nationwide Children’s Hospital offers all levels of CPE education – from the initial unit to residency to Certified Educator training. An initial unit from an ACPE accredited center is required for admittance to the residency program. Full and part-time units are available. No person will be denied acceptance on the basis of race, gender, age, faith group, national origin, sexual orientation or disability.

Learn more about Clinical Pastoral Care at Nationwide Children's Hospital ›

Statement of Confidentiality and Student Rights

Annual Notice (ACPE Standard 304.4):
This ACPE CPE center/program guarantees to its students the rights to inspect and review education records, to seek to amend them, to specified control over release of record information, and to file a complaint against the program for alleged violations of the Family Education and Privacy Act (FERPA) rights.

A student has the right to object to record content. If not negotiable, the written objection will be kept with and released with the record.

Violations of these protocols may be reported to the Chair of the Accreditation Commission at: ACPE, One West Court Square, Suite 325, Decatur, GA 30030.

ACPE information may be found at their website www.acpe.edu and application forms may be found at https://www.acpe.edu/ACPE/Resources/Forms.aspx or by calling the Pastoral Care office at 614-722-5250.

Faith Communities Near Nationwide Children's