Information for Faith Communities
About Parish Nursing >

Wellness is a common ideal in all faiths. When a faith community is interested in initiating a Parish Nurse Program it is often uncertain of how to begin. The first step is to gain an understanding of the basics of parish nursing and its role on a faith team.

• A parish nurse (PN) provides surveillance for members and refers to physicians for diagnosis and treatment
• A PN teaches families about medications but does not dispense them
• A PN understands the spiritual dimension and need of clients and makes referrals to clergy, spiritual leaders, or other leaders in faith communities
• A PN assists faith leaders with the physical / health-related issues of members
• A PN works with volunteers to provide assistance to members of the faith community
• A PN helps improve the health of both the faith community and its leaders
• In the Christian faith, a PN follows the biblical mandate to preach, teach, and heal

The second step is to determine how parish nursing connects with the faith’s understanding and practice of faith and health. Health ministry does not belong to one faith so the person or committee investigating its potential must determine how the program can complement the faith’s ideology.

Review the material under Fundamentals of Parish Nursing, Sample Budget, and Sample Job Description to understand the program’s structure.  For more information on professional and travel liability insurance, review the Professional Liability Fact Sheet.  Answers to common questions on parish nursing can be found on the Fact Sheet on Parish Nursing.

Survey the community to determine what programs already address issues of the elderly, the youth, the hospitalized, and the homebound. Listed below are some questions that can help sort out the issues of the community and the potentiality of a parish nurse program.

• What is the size and age of the community?
• What ministries are currently offered?
• How could a health professional enhance those services?
• Are there gaps in serving the membership physically, mentally, and spiritually?
• Can the members benefit from additional spiritual support?

Browse the Resources section of our website for additional information, books, and DVDs on Parish Nursing. The Essential Parish Nurse: ABCs for Congregational Health Ministries is written specifically for faith communities considering a parish nurse program, covering many topics including:

• The Essential Parish Nurse: The Case for Parish Nursing as a Ministry of the Church
• Sacred Footsteps: Diakonal Ministry and its Relationship to Parish Nursing
• Forging a New Path: A Brief History of Parish Nursing
• Not the Home Health Department: The Roles of a Parish Nurse
• You've Seen One Parish Nurse, You've Seen One Parish Nurse: The Role of the Health Cabinet
• Sent Out Two by Two: Sharing Ministry with a Parish Nurse
• Ministry in the Manner of Peter: Paid Models for Parish Nursing
• Ministry in the Manner of Paul: Volunteer Models for Parish Nursing
• How Much Does It Cost? Summary of the Costs of a Parish Nurse Program
• Can The Church Afford It? Financing a Parish Nurse Program
• Can The Parish Nurse Afford It? Providing Benefits for Parish Nurses
• How to Grow a Parish Nurse: Parish Nurse Basic Preparation
• Now What? Helping a New Parish Nurse Get Started
• Parish Nurse Programming: An Abundance of Possibilities
• Making Health Ministry Accessible and Visible: The Health Fair See the "Resource Section" for more information, or your local or on-line bookseller.