What is a Parish Nurse?
We are wounded healers called to love and care for a broken, wounded world serving a wounded Lord. —Blenos Pedersen
Definition
A parish nurse is a registered nurse with specialized knowledge who is called to ministry and affirmed by a faith community to promote health, healing and wholeness.
Function
The parish nurse functions as a catalyst and facilitator of health ministry, which belongs to the congregation and is designed to meet its needs and the needs of the community it serves.
Characteristics
- Experienced Registered Nurse
- Excellent assessment skills
- Current license to practice (provincial registration)
- Mature faith
- Independent practitioner
- Compliance with standards of practice
Education
- There is a need for educational preparation beyond the basic education of the RN
- This education incorporates theological and community development concepts
- In ICHM’s model, education includes clergy and congregational members as well as the nurse
ICHM Education Program
- Unique Congregational Development model
- Available to Partner Congregations of ICHM
- Parishioners / Health Committee Members and Clergy can attend class with or without a Parish Nurse Candidate
- Three levels, presented on weekends over 26 months
- 100% attendance at class is a requirement to receive certificate of completion
- Participants may take up to six years to complete the program
- Different criteria for completion of the program for (a) Parish Nurse candidates, (b) parishioners and (c) clergy
Steps to Becoming an ICHM Parish Nurse
- Partner with a congregation
- Application process: Faith Statement, Call to Parish Nursing Ministry, Educational Background, Current License to Practice, Clergy Reference
- Practicum of six months (100 hours) following each of Levels 1 and 2 classroom content
- Assigned Mentor and Parish Nurse Support Group
The Parish Nurse in the Congregation
- Member of Interdisciplinary Team
- A collaborative relationship between clergy and parish nurse is critical to success
- Ministry is affirmed by the faith community in a formal service of commissioning, which should also include the Health Committee / Cabinet
- Usually reports directly to church council
- ICHM recommends that this be a paid ministry
The Parish Nursing Class of 2016 graduation, in Saskatoon