Parish Nursing

Piecing together faith communities and healthcare

Parish nurses stitch together the colorful elements of their faith communities, creating a health ministry bound with love and backed by years of experience.

What is parish nursing?

Today's world of health care emphasizes wellness and prevention; however, not all people know how to maintain or improve their health. The information from the media or their doctor may overwhelm them. Parish nursing provides a bridge between the fragmented health care system and those who may be medically underserved or just need help deciphering.

Parish nurses are Registered Nurses who work within a congregation to promote the connection between health and the mind, body, and spirit.

What does a parish nurse do?

Parish nurses serve their congregations and clients in much the same way as do community nurses. They fill several roles:

• Health educator,

• Personal health counselor,

• Liaison with community organizations and

• Facilitator or coordinator of volunteers and support groups.

These roles may take different forms depending on the needs of the congregation/client base. The parish nurse may facilitate a cancer survivors' support group or field individual questions about cardiac rehab. The nurse may screen for high blood pressure or diabetes after coordinating a lecture on health risks. The nurse may coordinate an aerobics class. Or the nurse may visit a congregation member who has returned home from the hospital. The nurse may maintain regular "office hours" or "float."

Parish nursing derives its professional authority from the statutes and regulations of each State Board of Nursing and the Scope and Standards of Parish Nursing Practice.

How does parish nursing help the community?

Parish nurses often fill the gap, in their congregations' or clients' health care needs. A parish nurse provides a credible source of health education and health resources for those lacking adequate resources. The nurse also provides to the congregation an increased access to health screenings and services.

The parish nurse often goes beyond the church walls to reach a diverse population by creating or maintaining a partnership between the faith and secular communities.

How does Clarian support parish nursing?

The Clarian Health Partners parish nursing program blend: mind, body and spirit for all people in faith communities in a traditional way. No other hospitals in Indiana provides such a program in parish nursing.

Clarian Health-sponsored parish nurses are employees who have completed an accredited class at the University of Indianapolis (www.uindy.edu) or Marian College (www.marian.edu) and search for nursing. Clarian pays the course tuition.

These nurses usually serve their own congregations as volunteers, sharing their time and talents.

For more information, contact: Pat Thorlton, RN, Parish Nurse Coordinator by calling 317-962-3412 or by e-mail at pthorlton@clarian.org.