Parish Nursing Program
To Deliver Clinical and Service Excellence Through a Ministry of Physical, Mental, and Spiritual Healing
What is Parish Nursing?
Parish Nursing is rooted in a concept of mission and ministry to people. The parish nurse is a person of faith who is in a unique position to bring together professional health care skills and a vital faith experience. The focus of parish nursing is whole person health: body-mind-spirit. The role of a parish nurse allows a unique ministry of health to members of the congregation and the wider community. Parish nursing allows the congregation to reclaim it’s role in health and wholeness.
Role of a Parish Nurse:
A parish nurse is a registered professional nurse who, as a member of the ministerial team of a congregation, provides wholistic nursing services to the members of the congregation. After an assessment, the parish nurse responds to the identified needs of the congregation by taking on several roles: health educator, health counselor, referral agent, health advocate, and facilitator/trainer of volunteers. Parish nurses do not provide “hands-on” nursing care to their clients. They see their role as helping people make a connection between their faith and health.
Purpose of Parish Nursing:
- We challenge the nursing profession to reclaim the spiritual dimension of nursing care.
- We challenge the health care delivery systems to provide whole person care: body, mind and spirit.
- We challenge the faith community to work in partnership to restore its healing mission.
Strategic Vision:
To provide access to parish nurses and health ministries in our faith communities and to build partnerships in health and wholeness..
Parish Nursing A Beneficial Partnership for Clergy:
- Congregations have a biblical mandate to preach, teach and heal. Clergy and parish nurses together can do great things in our Lord’s name.
- Health is a wholistic way of living that embraces life in its fullness. A parish nurse assists parishioners to achieve higher levels of wellness by improving their spiritual and physical health.
- Where does a parishioner go for a second opinion, a counselor, or another service? A parish nurse is available to provide referrals to community services upon request.
- Clergy and health care providers have leadership roles in health and healing. The parish nurse model helps to build a strong bridge between medical and faith communities.