Parish Nursing
Parish Nurse Program and Volunteer Parish Nurse Partnership
Parish nursing is a unique, specialized practice of professional nursing focused on the promotion of intellectual, social, spiritual, and psychological health within the context of values, beliefs, practices, mission and ministry of a faith community. Congregations already promote health through worship, music, caring and sharing. Adding a registered nurse to the ministry team can enhance this promotion with the knowledge and guidance of a congregation's whole health need.
St. Francis’ Sister Marilyn Trowbridge, registered nurse, founded South Carolina’s first Parish Nurse Program and Volunteer Parish Nurse Partnership in 1995. With it, she created one of St. Francis’ most active preventive health ministries. Recognized as a regional center of excellence for parish nurse training, St. Francis has prepared more than 45 individuals for work as parish nurses throughout the state. Taught to combine their healing abilities with the disciplines of worship, service and education, parish nurses work to promote whole-person (physical and spiritual) health and wellness within faith communities.
St. Francis has developed a parish nurse program based on the Faith Community Nursing Scope and Standards of Practice. When establishing a parish nurse for your congregation, we will:
- Develop a parish nurse program that fits your congregations unique needs
- Assist in the recruitment and hiring including background check, verification of references and licensure
- Provide educational and spiritual programs for covenanted parish nurses
- Meet monthly with covenanted nurses to discuss ongoing pastoral practrice, resources, needs, education and provide mutual support
- Consult with congregational leadership to support work of the Parish Nurse and Health Ministers
- Facilitate annual collaborative evaluation using national Standards of Parish Nursing Practice
- Provide access to the Bon Secours Health Community web site
What does a Parish Nurse do?
- Discusses individual needs regarding illness and medications, prevention and wellness, and gives reassurance during times of crisis.
- Promotes the relationship between faith, health, attitudes, and lifestyle choices through bulletin articles, literature racks and education programs.
- Identifies the medically under-insured, indigent, or abandoned members of the congregation who need support for decision-making about health care issues.
- Connects congregational members to each other in response to needs as well as appropriate services within the community and government agencies.
- Recruits, prepares and supervises volunteers in health and pastoral ministries. Provides information and/or education to assist them in their role.
- Facilitates a whole person approach to healing of body, mind and spirit.
Contact us at 864-255-1332 to start developing a Parish Nurse Ministry in your church.