Spiritual Care

The Support and Services We Provide to Patients and Families

Spiritual 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 through Friday between the hours of 8 a.m. and 4 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 through 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 Catholic Mass on Tuesdays at noon and weekly Muslim prayer on Fridays at 1:15 p.m. in the Children’s Chapel in the C Lobby. Patients, families and staff are invited to attend. We also offer special services throughout the year for various holy days and events, which are posted on digital signage throughout the hospital. For more information, please contact us here.

Seasons for Healing Bereavement Program

Seasons for Healing is a Bereavement Support Program available to families after the loss of a child. This program is designed to provide support and resources to all who have experienced the loss of a child or grandchild.

To schedule bereavement support with one of our chaplains, please reach out to GriefSupport@NationwideChildrens.org, or call (614) 722-5250.

Clinical Pastoral Education

The Department of Spiritual 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 based on race, gender, age, faith group, national origin, sexual orientation or disability.

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

Faith Communities Near Nationwide Children's