Fundamentals of Parish Nursing
About Parish Nursing >

Parish nursing is a growing specialty practice of nursing that is recognized by the American Nursing Association as Faith Community Nursing. It is also a ministry that is embraced by many different Christian denominations as well as other faith traditions. To better understand the foundation of this ministry, view the Philosophy, Root Assumption, and Strategic Vision.

As a nursing specialty, there are specific qualifications for those entering parish nursing. The person must be a registered nurse, with at least 2-5 years of experience where skills have been developed for health assessment and problem-solving.  For additional information on parish nurse skill sets, click here.

Training specifically designed for health ministry is necessary to understand the focus and tasks of the ministry. Courses are available in many locations throughout the US and in several countries on five continents. The Foundations of Faith Community Nursing Classes (formerly Parish Nurse Basic Preparation) for parish nursing are in a variety of formats including weekly classes, on-line courses, retreat settings, and combinations of independent study and class work.

• The “List of Courses and Locations” provides dates and locations of current classes and their instructors
• The “Foundations of Faith Community Nursing Curriculum” provides a description of the 31-36 hour course and its core components
• The Sample Job Description demonstrates the application of the course work.  

The role of a parish nurse is governed by the American Nurses Association’s Scope and Standards for Registered Nurses, Scope and Standards for Faith Community Nurses, the Nurse Practice Act in the state the nurse practices, and the tasks in which the nurse owns competency. Actions and tasks will include:

• Advocacy, education, and referrals for clients
• Monitoring of the health and spiritual issues of clients
• Providing emotional and spiritual support to clients and families
• Actions that are derived from nursing diagnosis and assessments according to the nursing Scope and Standards for Registered Nurses and the Scope and Standards for Faith Community Nurses
• Any medical care for which the nurse is licensed or has been declared ‘competent’ to provide – if the medical care required is not a current skill of the nurse, then a referral to the appropriate caregiving service or emergency treatment is the only course of action
• Any care that is provided as a ‘good Samaritan’ in an emergency situation when other caregivers are not available
• Actions and tasks that are not included:
• Treatments, medications, medical care that must be directed/supervised by a physician’s order
• Routine medical care that is the responsibility of agencies under the client’s physician’s direction

Copies of either set of Scope and Standards can be obtained from the ANA or your favorite on-line book seller.