Jesus' ministry was a ministry of health and wholeness. He treated whole persons. He called his followers to do likewise. Historically, Parish Nursing is rooted in the early work of the church to bring healing and health care to people who need it. Churches were the first to reach out to the sick, eventually opening clinics, hospitals, hospices, and homes for the elderly and disabled. Parishes can have a role in the health needs of their people. Parish Nursing is a movement that has arisen to help meet the needs of the family of God for a health ministry that addresses them as whole persons.
WHAT IS PARISH NURSING?
Parish Nursing is an emerging area of specialized professional nursing practice distinguished by the following characteristics:
Parish Nursing is a melding of nursing and ministry. This ministry is grounded in the mission of the church to preach the Kingdom of God and to heal. Parish Nursing holds the spiritual dimension to be central to the practice. A Parish Nurse is a nurse who is called and committed to the healing ministry of the church, with advanced training in Parish Nursing.
A Parish Nurse program recognizes the ministry of the church to proclaim God's desire that we strive toward an abundant, healthful life. Jesus says in John 10:10: "I came that they might have life and have it abundantly." Persons in the church need reaffirmation and support in their growth toward health-filled living and wellness.
The Parish Nurse role balances: knowledge and skill; the sciences; theology and humanities; service and worship; and nursing care with pastoral functions. The Parish Nursing role is intertwined with those of monks and nuns, deacons, traditional healers and the historic roots of the nursing profession itself.
The focus of practice is the faith community. The Parish Nurse in collaboration with the pastoral staff and congragational members participates in the ongoing transformation of the faith community into a source of health and healing. Through partnership with other community health resources, Parish Nursing fosters new and creative responses to health concerns.
Parish Nursing services are designed to build on and strengthen capacities of individuals, families, and parishes to understand and care for one another.
The practice itself holds that all persons are sacred and must be treated with respect and dignity. In response to this belief, the Parish Nurse assists and empowers individuals to become more active partners in the management of their personal health resources.
The Parish Nurse understands health to be a dynamic process, which embodies the spiritual, psychological, physical and social dimensions of the person.
The Parish Nurse ministers wholistically using his or her health education and spiritual maturity to promote wellness of body, mind and spirit.
Spiritual health is central to well being and influences a person's entire being. Therefore, a sense of well being and illness may occur simultaneously. Healing may exist in the absense of a cure for physical illness.
Parish Nursing is a parish based approach to ministry that is tailor desinged for each setting in which a Parish Nurse functions. Priorities are determined by a parish health assessment. After a parish health assessment, a Health Council of interested persons in the faith community develops goals for ministry and program planning. A Parish Nurse Program may also involve collaboration with and/or coordination of a Care Team of parish members charged with caring for the practical needs of the parish. The Health Council will be charged with evaluating the effectiveness of the ministry.
Parish Nurses either work as a volunteer or for pay, depending on the financial resources of the faith community in which he/she functions. Sometimes there is more than one nurse in a faith community with one having a coordinating and training capacity and other nurses, health professionals or lay volunteers working to support the ministry.
PARISH NURSE ROLES
Health Counselor
-Counsels people on health related issues.
-Offers presence and prayer during times of crisis and celebration.
-Visits people in their home, hospital, or nursing home.
Educator
-Assists with lifestyle change.
-Leads health education classes.
-Provides health screening.
-Provides health education materials.
Advocate
-Assist people in understanding medical conditions.
-Empowers people to make good health care decisions.
-May develop or refer to support groups.
Volunteer Coordination
-Works with volunteers to develop and coordinate a health and caring ministry.
-Cooperates with other parish ministries to ensure that the needs of members of the parish are met.
Theological Reflection
-Integrates faith and health issues
-Therapeutic use of prayer and scripture.
-Supports worship events for healing and health.
Liason to Community Resources
-Assists in obtaining needed health services.
-Offers knowledge of support services and resources in the community.
For more information on Parish Nursing, or to volunteer for the Parish Nursing ministry, please contact Pamela Parrish at 542-0321 ext 101.
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