About Parish Nursing: The goal of the parish nurse is to minister wholistically to individuals and families, in and through the faith community, using her health education and spiritual maturity to promote wellness of body, mind, and spirit.

What is Parish Nursing? A care program of lay leaders from the nursing profession, who serve to integrate well-being with spiritual health and physical healing. Parish Nurses act as health educators, health counselors, organizers of volunteers and referral specialists.

Confidentiality is always kept unless you present issues that are a danger to you or someone else. There is no charge for the services of a parish nurse.

Why Parish Nurses? When Christianity began, the church was a major influence in all dimensions of life, looking after people's emotional and physical needs as well as their spiritual concerns. Over the years, health care became the domain of the medical community. But in recent years, we have become more aware of the powerful connection between a person's physical condition, mental state and spiritual well-being. Hence the concept of "whole person health care."

Having parish nurses as part of a congregation's ministry integrates this idea of "whole person health care" into the church.The Parish Nurse serves as a:

Health Educator - using health screenings, discussion groups, classes and special events to help parishioners understand the relationship between body, mind and spirit.

Health Counselor - being available for consultation through home, hospital or nursing home visits.

Facilitator or Organizer - coordinating volunteers within the congregation.

Referral Specialist - guiding parishioners to community health care and religious resources and services.

Other resources that we also recommend
for serving your church as a parish nurse: