Parish Nursing: An Idea Whose Time Has Come W. Marlene Doswell, RN, MA, PhD, FAAN Parish Nurse, Ethnan Temple Church
Parish Nursing Mission The intentional integration of the practice of faith with the practice of nursing so that people can achieve wholeness in, with, and through the community of faith in which parish nurses serve.
Roots of Parish Nursing The African American Church Lutheran Minister, Granger Westburg in the 1980’s The Christian church’s role to care for the whole person: body, mind, and spirit.
Requirements to be a Parish Nurse A Registered Professional Nurse A Biblical knowledge base/spirituality Completed certified Basic Parish Nursing Course
Who the Parish Nurse Works with/is a Resource to in the church The Pastor The Elders’ and Church Boards The Nursing Corps The Health Ministry Department Children’s Ministry Community Service
Role of the Parish Nurse Promoter of holistic health, helping people to integrate faith/health Health Education/Promotion Personal Health Counselor Community Resource Liaison/advocate Organizer, trainer and coordinator of health volunteers/professionals
Assessing Spiritual Needs Explore clients short and long-term life goals Help patients become involved in helping activities/random acts of kindness Help client explore churches in his/her area if not a church member but desires a church home. Help client discover a life purpose Help client discover things to be thankful for Help client find spiritual resources
A Parish Nurse’s Experience “ There are so many people in the church who think they are being called to love their neighbor but not themselves. So when I talk about love of self, or even self-care, it is probably a very foreign concept to them. They need to remember the whole commandment---to love our neighbor as ourselves!”
My Parish Nurse Experience The kindergarten dental patient The teen with STD The elderly man with hypertension The mentally challenged woman with Epilepsy The elder with Guillain-Barre syndrome The Jamaican parishioner with high steps