Parish Nurse Program Description
As holistic care becomes more accepted, parish nurse programs have become more widespread. Bishop Peter Rogness of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America stated, "There has been a rapid rise in the number of parish nurses in the congregations of our church. I believe that is because their value has touched a nerve--the intersection of physical care and spiritual care has shown us that these are not separate arenas, but are integrated in the care of the whole person our Lord calls us to practice."
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Identification
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A parish nurse is a trained medical professional who serves a faith community, such as a church. She helps people understand the interaction between the health of their mind, body and spirit. Parish nurses may empower people to take an active role in their personal health.
Philosophy
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Parish nurse programs align with the Judeo-Christian idea that when you care for others, you express God's love. According to the International Parish Nurse Resource Center, "Parish nurses appreciate that all persons are sacred and must be treated with respect and dignity. The parish nurse serves the faith community, creates safe and sacred places for healing and advocates with compassion, mercy and dignity."
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Functions
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A primary role of a parish nurse is to help people in the faith community integrate their faith with their health. He educates the congregation in preventative measures. He may organize health screenings or support groups. He helps people navigate the health care system when they are faced with a serious issue and makes referrals. He trains volunteers or other nurses to assist people. He works with the clergy when a congregation member has a medical crisis.
Experience
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According to the International Parish Nurse Resource Center, parish nurses must be registered nurses with at least two years of experience. Parish nurses should complete a basic preparation course that has been approved by the International Parish Nurse Resource Center. The 35-hour course includes units on spirituality, professionalism, holistic health and community. Many parish nurses also complete clinical pastoral education, which is a supervised internship in a medical facility that focuses on spirituality for people who are undergoing treatment in the health care system.
Misconception
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Many people believe that a parish nurse provides direct medical care. While some parish nurses may assist with health screening such as blood pressure checks, most parish nurses do not provide medical services. Instead, the nurse creates a link between members of the congregation and other practitioners within the medical community.
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References
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- Photo Credit nurse on duty image by Pix by Marti from Fotolia.com
