Philosophy of Parish Nursing

Parish nursing is an emerging area of specialized professional nursing practice distinguished by the following characteristics:

Parish nursing practice holds the spiritual dimension to be central to the practice. It also encompasses the physical, psychological and social dimensions of nursing practice. The parish nurse role balances: knowledge and skill; the sciences, theology and humanities; service and worship; and nursing care with pastoral care functions. The historic roots of the role are intertwined with those of monks and nuns, deacons and deaconesses, church nurses, traditional healers, and the nursing profession itself. The focus of practice is the faith community and its ministry. The parish nurse in collaboration with the pastoral staff and congregational members participates in the ongoing transformation of the faith community into a source of health and healing. Through partnership with other community health resources, parish nursing fosters new and creative responses to health concerns.

Parish nursing services are designed to build on and strengthen capacities of individuals, families, and congregations to understand and care for one another in light of their relationship to God, faith traditions, themselves, and the broader society. The practice holds that all persons are sacred and must be treated with respect and dignity. In response to this belief, the parish nurse assists and empowers individuals to become more active partners in the management of their personal health resources.

The parish nurse understands health to be a dynamic process which embodies the spiritual, psychological, physical and social dimensions of the person. Spiritual health is central to well-being and influences a person's entire being. Therefore, a sense of well-being and illness may occur simultaneously. Healing may exist in the absence of cure.

Parish nurses must take responsibility for their own professional development. However, the structure and content of lifelong professional development opportunities should meet both their immediate and future professional goals.

Solari-Twadell, A., McDermott, M.A., Ryan, J.A., Djupe, A.M. (1994) [RM1]. Assuring Viability For the Future: Guideline Development For Parish Nurse Education Programs. Lutheran General Health System, Park Ridge, Illinois.

Functions of the Parish Nurse Role

Integrator of Faith and Health
In all activities and contacts, the parish nurse seeks to promote the understanding of the relationship between faith and health.

Health Educator
Promotes an atmosphere where individuals of all ages, through a variety of educational activities, explores the relationship between values, attitudes, lifestyle, faith and health.

Personal Health Counselor
Discusses health issues and problems with individuals; makes home, hospital, and nursing home visits as needed.

Referral Agent and Liaison with Congregational and Community Resources
Referrals are provided to other congregational resources as well as those found in the community at large.

Facilitator of Volunteers
Recruits, coordinates and resources volunteers within the congregation to serve in various health ministries.

Developer of Support Group
Facilitates the development of support groups for members of the faith community and people from the external community.

Health Advocate
The parish nurse works with the client, faith community and primary health resources to provide what is in the best interest of the client from a whole person perspective listening and supporting the client to do what they can do and being their voice when they seem to have none.

Holstrum, S.E. (1999). Perspectives on a Suburban Parish Nurse Practice. in Solari-Twadell, A.and McDermott, M.A. "Parish Nursing: Promoting Whole Person Health Within Faith Communities." Sage. 1000 Oaks, California.

Historically, parish nursing is rooted in the early work of deaconesses and other religious sisters who worked in parishes promoting health from a whole person perspective. The contemporary side of parish nursing was conceptualized by Reverend Granger Westberg as a result of his work with Holistic Health Centers in the 1970's. In 1984 Reverend Westberg approached Lutheran General HealthSystem, Park Ridge, Illinois, with the idea of partnering with local congregations in a parish nurse project. This resulted in six nurses being hired to work with six congregations. Represented in the six churches were two Roman Catholic Churches and four in the Lutheran and Methodist Churches.

Parish nursing spread throughout many faith traditions in the past decade and in the spring of 1997, the American Nursing Association designated parish nursing as a specialty practice. The scope and standards of parish nursing were published by the American Nurses Association in cooperation with the Health Ministries Association in 1998.

Today, parish nurses are serving faith communities in the United States, Canada, Australia, and other parts of the world.

Statement of Philosophy for Parish Nurse Education

Parish nurse education includes transformative content and processes that support the evolution of spiritual formation, knowledge, attitudes and skills. Parish nurse education includes the concepts of person, health, nursing and environment informed by principles of primary health care (World Health Organization) and concepts of theology, health, healing, and wholeness.

Parish nurse education occurs at several levels. The basic preparation curriculum is written at the Baccalaureate level. The curriculum can be offered through continuing education or for-credit courses at the Baccalaureate or higher degree level. Parish nurses are expected to participate in life-long learning. Continuing education includes content and processes to support spiritual formation, nursing knowledge enhancement, and skill development. At the Master's level, parish nurse education involves expanded application of theory, research utilization and population-focused interventions, as well as, theological/pastoral care content.

Qualifications for the providers of parish nurse education include Master's preparation in nursing, completion of a Basic Parish Nurse Preparation Program, and experience with parish nursing practice.

Evaluation of participant competency involves oral and/or written demonstration of proficiency in content and processes. Evaluation of parish nurse education offerings will be continuous, involving participant critique, peer review, program evaluation, and consumer feedback.

Download a Sample Job Description for Parish Nursing Coordinators/Managers in printable Adobe Acrobat format.

Download a Sample Job Description for Director/Manager of Parish Nursing Services in printable Adobe Acrobat format.

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Parish nurse education will be based on theory, practice and research. It will include theological concepts while reclaiming the spiritual dimension of nursing. Every nurse who uses the title "parish nurse" or similar title will have completed the standardized basic parish nurse core curriculum as endorsed through the International Parish Nurse Resource Center. There will be denominational support for this curriculum with collaboration among providers. Widespread seminary commitment will enhance interdisciplinary educational opportunities. Parish nurse graduates are highly encouraged to pursue continuous learning and regular personal spiritual formation. Periodic evaluation will be part of the continuous development of the curriculum. This curriculum will be available and accessible worldwide. Schools of nursing will introduce students to parish nursing. The specialty will promote research and disseminate findings in lay and professional literature. Parish nurse education will be responsive to regional, religious, and cultural differences.

• Continuing Professional Development of the Parish Nurse
• Documentation of Parish Nursing Services
• Maintenance of the Health Record
• Confidentiality
• Performance Evaluation of the Parish Nurse
• Leave of Absence and/or Sabbatical for the Parish Nurse
• Ethical Decision Making
• Abuse and Neglect
• Process for Developing a Screening
• Education and Training of Providers of a Screening
• Blood Pressure Monitoring
• Documentation of Screenings

Recommended Policies and Procedures for Institutions Sponsoring Parish Nurse Programs

• Process for Working with Congregations in Establishing a Parish Nurse Program


• Documentation of the Arrangement Between an Institution and Congregation
• Parish Professional Licensure
• Parish Nurse Advisory Committee
• Parish Nurse Job Description
• Selection of the Parish Nurse
• Documentation of Congregational Nursing Services
• Maintenance of Client Records
• Parish Nurse Continuing Professional Development Meetings
• Professional Development for the Parish Nurse
• Competency Assessment/Parish Nurse
• Leave of Absence - Parish Nurse
• Sabbatical - Parish Nurse
• Supervision of Parish Nurse Performance Problems
• Annual Performance Evaluation of the Parish Nurse
• Wage and Salary - Parish Nurse
• Parish Nurse Integration into the Continuum of Care
• Ethical Decision Making - Parish Nurse
• Parish Nurse Resignation
• Confidentiality/Parish Nurse
• Patient Rights and Responsibilities (Overall Institution Policy)
• Abuse and Neglect (Overall Institution Policy)
• Process for Developing a Screening (Overall Institution Policy)
• Education and Training for Providers of a Screening (Overall Institution Policy)
• Blood Pressure Monitoring (Overall Institution Policy)
• Cholesterol Screening (Overall Institution Policy)
• Documentation of Screenings (Overall Institution Policy)