A Way to Promote
Holistic Congregational Health
Definition
Parish nursing is defined as “a
unique, specialized practice of professional nursing which focuses on the
promotion of health within the context of the values, beliefs, and practices of
a faith community.. . . Health is viewed as not only the absence of disease but
(also as) . . . harmony with self, others, the environment, and with God.” (Scope
and Standards of Parish Nursing Practice; acknowledged and published by
ANA, 1998.)
A nurse should have a sense of
calling to church nursing ministry.
Roots/Foundations
Jesus responded to people’s need
by making them whole. He calls Christians to follow His example of
compassionate caring for all; therefore, nurses should be professionally
involved in the church’s redemptive ministry (Matt. 4:23; Luke 9:2).
Parish nursing is a global, new,
developing area of nursing begun by Granger Wesburg in 1984.
Educational
Requirements
A current nursing license issued
by the state in which the parish nurse practices is required.
Since there is no certification
exam in parish nursing developed by ANCC (1999); or accreditation process for courses
or curricula, the nurse should follow the guidelines provided in the Scope and
Standards of Parish Nursing Practice.
A model curriculum has been
developed and endorsed by the International Parish Nurse Resource Center which
may be purchased for use by educational institutions or programs. (V. Wepfer,
in Connections 99, no. 3 [Fall 1999]: 5.)
Baptist
Nursing Fellowship Endorsement
Even though Baptist Nursing
Fellowship is not a sponsor or provider of Parish nursing, we endorse
Parish Nursing and believe that
the church ministry team should include a parish nurse.
Areas
of Ministry
Health educator
Personal health counselor and
spiritual/prayer interaction
Referral source and liaison with
community resources
Facilitator/educator of
volunteers
Clarifier of interrelationship
of faith and health
Visions
of Service
The parish nurse promotes
wellness and disease prevention in the faith community by:
• organizing health fairs,
health screenings, health promotion education;
• enlisting members’
participation in ministry;
• visiting/communicating with
members with health concerns to assist in referral or education;
• offering training and
affirmation to caregivers and families;
• coordinating a church care
team for persons with long-term illnesses to assist caregivers;
• providing opportunities for
outreach through support groups including nonchurch community;
• educating the congregation on
moral/ethical health issues.
Program
Developmental Guide
1. Establish a learning program
for congregation and staff.
a. Gather educational resources and do study.
b. Do needs assessment.
c. Identify members with health ministry
interest.
2. Continue studies on holistic
health care.
3. Lead church to establish a
Health Ministry Committee. The chair should be a member of the church council.
Tasks
of Health Ministry Committee
a. Continue assessment of needs a parish nurse would address in the
congregation.
b. Studying model
options for church’s health ministry.
c. Keep congregation informed on progress.
4. Establish a relationship with
local medical programs and other health-related groups if your parish nurse is
not participating in a medical initiated model.
5. Choose the parish nurse model
to fit your church needs and employ nurse.
Information
Resource Centers
International Parish Nurse
Resource Center
Deaconess Parish Nurse
Ministries
475 E. Lockwood Avenue
Webster Groves, MO 63119
(314) 918-2259;
www.parishnurses.org
Health Ministries Association
295 W. Crossville Road, Suite
130
Roswell, GA 30075
1-800-280-9919; www.hmassoc.org
The Interfaith Health Program
Rollins School of Public Health
Emory University
1256 Briarcliff Road NE, Building A, Suite 107
Atlanta, GA 30306
(404) 727-5246
lmcphee@emory.edu
(Some)
Parish/Congregational/Church Nurse
Educational
Programs
Congregational Nurse Preparation
Course
Coordinator: Shirley Rawlins,
APRN, BC, DSN
Home:
(770) 949-0217
Email:
srrawl@bellsouth.net
Note: Taught in partnership with
the Georgia Baptist College of Nursing of Mercer University (Atlanta, GA); 39
contact hours through the Georgia Nurses’ Association.
Gardner-Webb University
Contact: Shirley Toney, RN, PhD
Dean
School of Nursing
P. O. Box 7268
Boiling Springs, NC 28017
(704) 406-4360
Email: stoney@gardner-webb.edu
Note: Offers MSN in Parish
Nursing in collaboration with the School of Divinity.
Parish Nursing Certificate Program (Congregational Nursing)
Contact: Gretchen McDaniel, RN,
DSN
Ida
V. Moffett School of Nursing
Samford
University
800
Lakeshore Drive
Birmingham,
AL 35229
(205)
726-2626
Email:
gsmcdani@samford.edu
Virginia Parish Nurse Educational Program
(http://www.wmu-va.org/ParishNursePage.htm)
Parish Nurse Preparation Course (Parish Nurse Resource Center
Curriculum)
Contact: Gerri
McDaniel
Parish
Nurse Coordinator WMUV/RVBA,
Co-coordinator
VPNEP
5016
Britaney Road
Roanoke,
VA 24012
(540)
977-3903
Email:
gerrimcd@cox.net
Note: Offers 56.25 contact hours:
1.
a distant
learning plus two retreat programs.
2.
a semester
program with Jefferson College of Health Sciences, Roanoke, Virginia.
In 1998, the Virginia Baptist Nursing Fellowship began this
program with funds provided by a WMU Second Century Fund grant. In 2004, this
program has been completed by 125 nurses from five states and seven
denominations.
Union University Parish Nursing Course
Contact: Joyce Henerson, RN, MS
Union University School of Nursing
1050 Union University Drive
Jackson, TN 38305
(731)661-5236
Email: jhenders@uu.edu
Compiled
by
Myrtice
Owens, RN, MRE;
Shirley
Rawlins, APRN, BC, DSN;
and Ellen
D. Tabor, RN, EdD
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