Integrator of Faith and Health:
Assists parishioners to achieve higher levels of wellness by improving
both spiritual and physical health.
Health Educator:
Provides opportunities for the congregation to learn about health issues, individually
and in groups.
Health Counselor:
Discusses health concerns, emphasizing early response to small problems
and encouraging healthy lifestyle changes.
Referral Advisor:
Provides referral to healthcare and social services within the community.
Health Advocate:
Speaks out to help members of the congregation or community obtain needed health-related
services.
Developer of Support Groups:
Facilitates the development of support groups for the faith community and others
served.
Volunteer Coordinator:
Recruits, prepares and oversees congregational volunteers who help those in need.
Philosophy of Parish Nursing
- Specialty practice and professional model of health ministry
- Reclaims the historic roots of health and healing found in many faith traditions
- Live out the early work of monks, nuns, deacons and deaconesses, church nurses,
traditional healers
- Spiritual dimension is ESSENTIAL to parish nursing practice
- All persons are sacred, must be treated with respect and dignity
- Serves, advocates, assists, supports, coordinators, integrates, educates, councils,
advises and develops
- Health is a dynamic process – embodies spiritual, psychological, physical and social
dimensions of a person
- Focus of practice is the faith community and its ministries
- Collaborates with clerical staff and congregants
- Source of health and healing
- Partners with other community health resources
- Fosters new and creative responses to health and wellness concerns
Mission
Intentional integration of practice of faith with nursing practice So people may
achieve wholeness in, with and through community of faith in which nurse serves.
Purpose
- Challenges the nursing profession to reclaim spiritual dimension of nursing care
- Challenges the health care system to provide whole person care
- Challenges the faith community to restore its healing mission
Strategic Vision
Access to a parish nurse ministry in every faith community
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Beatitudes for the Parish Nurse
Blessed be the Parish Nurse for being caring,
Available and accessible to most faith communities,
Knowledgeable about community resources
and the process of referral, cost effective,
Has a high tolerance for ambiguity,
Has a generalist education and previous
employment that have resulted in a broad variety of skills,
Process oriented,
Has a generosity of spirit, both of time and talent,
Focuses on priorities,
Committed,
Dependable,
Persevering,
A believer in God, clients, nursing, herself,
and in a better world here and hereafter!
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