[LaVorneRN]

Can someone explain to me what this is exactly? If ther eis anyone in this field please tell me about it.

[rnrncan]

Parish Nursing: a speciality practice and professional model of health ministry. A Parish Nurse is an experienced registered nurse in good standing with the Professional governing body or association. A Parish Nurse links faith and health to combine professional nursing with Christian ministry. The Christian Church mandate is to preach, to teach and to heal.
I believe there are also some Jewish Parish Nurses as well although I haven't met any as of yet.
Hope this is helpful. Do a internet seach and you will find hundreds of entries.

[renerian]

My mother in law is a parish retired nurse. She ministers to the sick and helps them access different service in the community. She also does blood pressure and blood sugar screenings.

renerian

[Artis]

Yes thanks, so much. I am really interested in this field. I will have to more research and thanks for your tips.:Melody:

Originally Posted by rnrncan

Parish Nursing: a speciality practice and professional model of health ministry. A Parish Nurse is an experienced registered nurse in good standing with the Professional governing body or association. A Parish Nurse links faith and health to combine professional nursing with Christian ministry. The Christian Church mandate is to preach, to teach and to heal.
I believe there are also some Jewish Parish Nurses as well although I haven't met any as of yet.
Hope this is helpful. Do a internet seach and you will find hundreds of entries.

[VickyRN]

Here is a website with wonderful and thorough information concerning parish/ faith-based nursing:

http://www.ihwassoc.org/nursing.html

Roles: Parish nurses function within the parameters of seven (7) major roles. These are:

Health Educator – focusing on a variety of educational activities for all ages that explore the relationship between values, attitudes, lifestyle, faith and health.

Personal Health Counselor – assisting individuals to deal with health issues and problems and may include hospital, home, nursing home, etc. visits.

Referral Agent – providing congregational and community resources for healing and wellness.

Health Advocate – encouraging all systems (congregant, faith community, primary health resources) to find the best solution for healing and wholeness - body, mind and spirit.

Facilitator of Volunteers – recruiting and coordinating resources within the faith community to serve in its various health ministries.

Developer of Support Groups – facilitating the development of support groups to meet member needs and those of the external community.

Integrator of Faith and Health – seeking, in all activities and contacts, to promote the understanding of the relationship between faith and health

Other resources:
http://www.ipnrc.parishnurses.org/

[Artis]

Thank you , I think this is it. I want to be a Parish Nurse. GOd Bless You!!:Melody:

Originally Posted by VickyRN

Here is a website with wonderful and thorough information concerning parish/ faith-based nursing:

http://www.ihwassoc.org/nursing.html



Other resources:
http://www.ipnrc.parishnurses.org/

[VickyRN]

Here's another good article about parish nursing:

From Dream to Reality: How a Parish Nurse Program Is Born by Sarah P. Farrell and Dawn B. Rigney
Thinking about a parish nurse ministry? Eleven parish nurses share the ups and downs of getting started, revealing 5 phases of program development.

http://www.intervarsity.org/ncf/jcn/...maries.html#34

[monnelise]

artis, I dont know where you live but Azusa Pacific University has a parish nursing program.

[RetiredMSN]

Artis, Just keep in mind you probably will not be able to make a living for a while in this wonderful, fulfilling role. The best thing is to do a lot of reading and get all the information you can on the subject and the role of the nurse in the church and with the congregation. Determine if your church could use this position and these services. Consult with your pastor and other leaders to determine level of interest. Then draw up an action plan based on your readings. This will lead you to present the program as a volunteer service to your church board or leadership team. If they accept the idea, then it will be presented to the congregation for approval & you are off.

Select a committee to help, get them elected by the church, lead them in planning the program based on your readings. It's fun, it's a start, and when the church sees how valuable the services are, you may be able to sell them on the idea of paying for a nurse on staff after 2-3 years. Or, you may want to write for a grant to pay for the nurse initially, hoping the congregation will assume more responsibility after a couple of years. Certainly after 1 yr., they may at least be willing to pay for you to attend a course if you are interested in being the nurse to serve in that role.

This is pretty much what I did, and the Congregational Health Program is pretty well established in our church now, in our third yr. However it is all volunteer. It is my personal goal to try to get a paid nurse on staff within 5 yrs., one way or the other. I am retired and am not interested in being part or full time any more.

Hang in there...make and keep goals, keep your faith, follow God's leading.

RetiredMSN

[smsrnbsn]

So glad there are other nurses interested in learning about parish nursing.
A parish nurse is: 1. A health educator; 2) a personal health counselor; 3) a teacher of volunteers; 4) a laison with community health organizations; 5)a clairifier of the close relationship between faith and health; 6) most importantly a client advocate.

The basic requirements are: BE a registered professional nurse with a current nursing license; and have a baccalaureate degree and two years working in the health field. Experience in any of the following is beneficial: public health, ecducation, nursing homes or care centers, physician's office, school nurse in public schools, medical-surgical nurse, or emergency-outpatinet nurse. The most important qualification is a high degree of spiritual maturity. It is crucial tha the nurse have a talent for counseling.

The nurse's main objectives are to help people assume responsibility for their own health and to help them grasp new insights about the many causes of illness. This entails considerable teaching and the development of various support groups. It is the responsibillity of the parish to create interest in a variety of health-related programs. Aside from B/P checks, parish nurses generally do not give "hands on" care.

There is certification given after completing a training which can be done on the internet or at a local college or university that offers it. University of Indiana gives them over the internet. Its a six week course complete with readings, assignments and written work to be evaluated.

The difference in the parish nurse (PN) as oppose to the faith ministry nurse (FMN) is that the parish nurse extends her role outside the congregation to the surrounding parish. The FMN contains herself strictly to the congregation. Many synogogue nurse's are FMN's since the the word "parish" has been associated over the years to Christian churches. PN's are more akin to public health nurses.

I hope this answers some of your questions.