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The International Parish Nurse Resource Center offers a wealth of information for practicing parish nurses or nurses new to the specialty, including the following:
Philosophy of Parish Nursing Root Assumptions Strategic Vision Sample Job Description for the Ministry of Parish Nursing Practice Sample Budget Modules of the Basic Parish Nurse Preparation Curriculum List of Educational Partners and Affiliates Current Educational Offerings
Philosophy of Parish Nursing Parish nursing is a recognized specialty practice that combines professional nursing and health ministry. Parish nursing emphasizes health and healing within a faith community. The philosophy of parish nursing embraces four major concepts: spiritual formation; professionalism; shalom as health and wholeness; and community, incorporating culture and diversity.
- SPIRIT - The spiritual dimension is central to parish nursing practice. Personal spiritual formation is an ongoing, essential component of practice for the parish nurse and includes both self-care and hospitality, through opening the heart to self and others. Spiritual formation is an intentional process of intimacy with God to foster spiritual growth.
- ROOTS - The parish nurse role reclaims the historic roots of professional nursing. Aspects of health and healing found in many faith traditions are embodied in the role of the parish nurse. The parish nurse practices under the scope and standards of practice and the ethical code of nursing as set forth in their country.
- SHALOM - The parish nurse understands health to be a dynamic process that embodies the spiritual, psychological, physical, and social dimensions of the person. Shalom, God's intent for harmony and wholeness, serves as a foundation for understanding health. A sense of well being can exist in the presence of imbalance, and healing can exist in the absence of cure.
- COMMUNITY - The practice of parish nursing focuses on a faith community. The parish nurse, in collaboration with the pastoral staff and congregants, participates in the ongoing transformation of the faith community into sources of health and healing. Through partnership with other community health resources, parish nursing fosters new and creative responses to health and wellness concerns. Parish nurses appreciate that all persons are sacred and must be treated with respect and dignity. The parish nurse serves the faith community, creates safe and sacred places for healing, and advocates with compassion, mercy, and dignity.
back to top Root Assumptions of Parish Nursing Parish nursing is rooted in the Judeo-Christian tradition, and the historic practice of professional nursing, and is consistent with the basic assumptions of many faiths that we care for self and others as an expression of God's love.
back to top Strategic Vision for Parish Nursing Access to a parish nurse in every faith community.
back to top Modules of the Basic Parish Nurse Preparation Curriculum A thirty-four hour parish nurse basic preparation course is offered at over 104 academic and healthcare institutions around the United States and abroad. Some offer the course on a Monday through Friday schedule, some offer it for two or more weekends, some offer it during the evenings, and some offer it on-line. Cost also varies, and all institutions must make academic credit available to students if requested (generally, for an additional fee, and this credit may require extra assignments). One of these courses will be right for you!
Click here for a list of the modules of the Basic Preparation Curriculum Click here for a list of our Educational Partners and Affiliates Click here for a current list of Educational Offerings back to top