What is the Role of Parish Nursing in a Congregation?
1. Linking Faith & Health
- Interpreting the connection between lifestyle, faith and health
- Focus on integration of body, mind and spirit
- Faith as a resource for wellness, comfort and support
- Focus on spiritual healing through reconciliation and forgiveness
Method
- One-to-one personal interaction (parishioner-to-parish nurse, parishioner-to-parishioner) OR interactions (parishioner-to-nurse, parishioner-to-parishioner) OR group activities planned by Health Committee
- Ministry of Presence and Listening
- Using elements of worship: prayer, scripture, healing liturgies, guided imagery, meditative exercises (e.g., labyrinth)
- Sessions on prayer and meditation
2. Promoting Health & Preventing Illness (Health Education)
- Focus on the concept of stewardship of the gift of life: “Life is a gift and we are the stewards”
- “Health is not the purpose of life, but rather it serves life’s purpose”
- How can we care for the gift of life so that we can fulfill God’s purpose for our lives?
Method
- One-to-one personal interaction (parishioner / parish nurse)
- Health Promotion seminars based on congregational health survey findings
- Bulletin board displays
- Church newsletter / bulletin column
3. Personal Health & Counselling
- Listening
- Talking over concerns
- Identifying needs (nursing assessment)
- Identifying parishioner goals
- Providing support in moving forward
- Providing Advocacy support
Method
One-to-one personal interaction (parishioner / parish nurse)
4. Advocate & Referral Resources
- Referring to services within the faith community (minister, pastoral visitor, outreach committee, etc.)
- Referring to services within the community at large (crisis team, lawyer, social worker, physician, etc.)
- Assisting clients and families to make health decisions
- Advocating for health care services for clients and families and healthy public policy for the community
Method
- One-to-one personal interaction (parishioner / parish nurse)
- Locating support services and advocating on behalf of parishioner
5. Multiplying the Ministers
- Facilitating the development of parishioner/congregational ministry in response to identified needs
- Helping parishioners to hear their own calls to ministry
Method
- One-to-one personal interaction (parishioner / parish nurse) or group training
- Mobilizing congregational support as needs are identified
- Organization, training, and support for individual and group ministries
- Support services developed by the parish nurse will respond to needs NOT BEING MET in the community
- It is important that the church not be seen to be duplicating services or replacing services that are already in the public domain
- Provides opportunities for congregations to reach out and make a difference in the communities they serve