PARISH/CONGREGATIONAL/CHURCH NURSING- A Way to Promote Holistic Congregational Health

[Evangelist Cookie Hunter]

PARISH/CONGREGATIONAL/CHURCH NURSING

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:

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

[phone]; 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
[phone]

[e-mail]






(Some) Parish/Congregational/Church Nurse

Educational Programs



Congregational Nurse Preparation Course

Coordinator: Shirley Rawlins, APRN, BC, DSN

Home: [phone]

Email: [e-mail]

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

[phone]

Email: [e-mail]

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

[phone]

Email: [e-mail]





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

[phone]

Email: [e-mail]

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
[phone]
Email: [e-mail]







Compiled by

Myrtice Owens, RN, MRE;

Shirley Rawlins, APRN, BC, DSN;

and Ellen D. Tabor, RN, EdD