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Parish nursing can be a beneficial partnership relationship on a congregational leadership team. To understand the role of a parish nurse, it is helpful to understand what a parish nurse is
not:
- A parish nurse is not a physician, and will not diagnose or treat illness.
- A parish nurse is not a home health nurse, and will not dispense medications or provide treatments prescribed by a physician
- A parish nurse is not a therapist, and will not do physical therapy, occupational therapy, or psychotherapy.
- A parish nurses is not a clergyperson. All parish nurses come to the field with a deep spiritual commitment, however.
These are the roles of a parish nurse:
- Integrator of faith and health
- Health educator
- Health counselor
- Referral advisor
- Health advocate
- Developer of support groups
Here are some benefits from having a parish nurse on staff:
- Much of a pastor's work is health-related
- Volunteers are not as available as they were in the past
- Other sectors of society are looking to churches to pick up the pieces
- Clergy and the Church have leadership roles in healthcare
- The Church has a biblical mandate to preach, teach, and heal
- Parish nurses can help improve congregational and clergy health
Reprinted with permission from "Parish Nursing: A Beneficial Partnership for Clergy" by Deborah Patterson, The Clergy Journal, Vol. 25, No. 9, Sept. 2004, 32-33.
A resource has been developed especially for clergy who are considering adding a parish nurse program to their congregation's outreach. The Essential Parish Nurse: ABCs for Congregational Health Ministries covers 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.