WHAT IS A PARISH NURSE?
A Parish Nurse is a registered nurse with a minimum of two years experience that works in a faith community to address health issues of its members and other members in the broader community or neighborhood.
WHAT DOES A PARISH NURSE DO?
A Parish Nurse seeks to foster physical, emotional, spiritual, and social harmony leading to healthy and healing relationships with God, family, faith communities, culture and creation.
WHO CAN BE A PARISH NURSE?
Registered nurses with a minimum of two years experience, a current license in the state where the faith community is located, and who have completed a Parish Nurse basic preparation course for this specialty practice recognized by the American Nurses Association.
HOW DID PARISH NURSING START?
The Rev. Dr. Granger Westberg began parish nursing in the mid-1980’s in Chicago, as a reincarnation of the faith community nursing outreach done by religious orders, such as the “Parish Deaconesses” in Europe and America in the 1800’s.
WHAT ABOUT THE NAME?
In the tradition sense of the word, “parish” includes the whole neighborhood, so this specialty nurse practice derives its name from serving a congregation and the wider community. It is also known as “congregational nursing, churching nursing, and faith community nursing.”
IS THIS ONLY AVAILABLE TO CHRISTIAN CONGREGATIONS?
No – there are Jewish Congregational Nurses, Muslim Crescent Nurses, and registered nurses serving in similar capacities within other faith traditions as well.
WHAT IS THE TRAINING FOR A PARISH NURSE?
There are several curricula, but most parish nurses have used curriculum developed by a panel of nursing faculty which is offered in partnership with the International Parish Nurse Resource Center (IPNRC) at more than 130 nursing schools around the U.S. and abroad.
ARE THERE PARISH NURSES IN OTHER STATES?
There are Parish Nurses in all 50 states. Contact the IPNRC for locations and coordinators of programs.
HOW MANY PARISH NURSES ARE THERE?
As of January 2009, there are approximately 12,000 Parish Nurses in the United States of which 35% are compensated for their ministry.
ARE THERE PARISH NURSES IN OTHER COUNTRIES?
Parish nursing is growing rapidly around the world. Currently there are nurses in Canada, Scotland, Wales, England, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Swaziland, Zimbabwe, Madagascar, Korea, Singapore, Malaysia, and the Bahamas.
HOW CAN ONE CONNECT WITH OTHER PARISH NURSES?
Please contact Elizabeth Ashton at [email protected] or Jackie Tselikis at [email protected].