Parish Nursing - Combining the passion of your faith with your profession.
What is Parish Nursing?
Parish nursing, also known as faith community nursing, is a specialty practice recognized by the American Nursing Association that combines professional nursing and health ministry. Parish nursing promotes health and healing within a faith community, focusing on the whole person and emphasizing wellness, disease prevention and health promotion, and healthy spirituality.
Who does a Parish Nurse Benefit?
- The congregation, by recognizing the role of spirituality as a contributing factor to overall health and wellness.
- The clergy, by providing support in the healing ministry of the church.
- The community, by providing collaboration between faith communities and health care institutions.
- The health care providers, by promoting continuity of care and timely referrals.
What does a Parish Nurse Do?
- Delivers holistic care, holding the spiritual dimension to be central to the practice while encompassing the physical, psychological, and social dimensions.
- Feels compelled to answer the call to serve in the ministry of the church.
- Connects to a network of parish nurses statewide to rely on for additional information and assistance.
- Does not provide direct hands-on care.
What a Parish Nurse is Not
- A physician, and will not diagnose or treat illness
- A home health nurse, and will not dispense medications or provide treatments prescribed by a physician
- A therapist, and will not do physical therapy, occupational therapy, or psychotherapy
- A clergyperson, however all parish nurses come to the field with a deep spiritual commitment