What Does a Faith Community Nurse Do?
—prepared by Mary Van Der Werf, RN, FCN
Elim Care Faith Community Nurse Coordinator
Helping in a number of different ways, a faith community nurse in any church is a valuable resource. Faith community nurses provide assistance in the areas noted below. Looking for more information in any of these areas for your church or faith community nurse? Email: fcnn@elim.org
Heath Education | Facilitator of Volunteers | Health Counselor | Health Screenings
Spiritual Support | Referral Source
Health education
- Church nursery workers training
- Classes/Workshops
- CPR/AED training
- Eating disorders
- Alternative medications
- Good nutrition
- First Aid training
- Grief
- Bioethics
- Babysitting skills
- Hand washing
- End of Life/Advanced Directives
- Planning your funeral
- Children’s health and developmental needs
- Mental health classes
- Anxiety
- Depression
- How to help a friend who has a mental illness
- Mental wellness
- Autism spectrum
- Managing stress
- Holiday depression
- Support Groups
- Grief
- Divorce
- Weight Loss
- Depression
- Single Parenting
- Immigrant
- Chronic Illness
- Unemployed
- Healthy food at church activities
- Domestic Violence Awareness Sunday
- Disability Awareness Sunday
- Nursery infection control
- Health bulletin board
- Newsletter articles/bulletin inserts
- Health web page
- Exercise challenges
- Staff educations on pertinent illnesses
- Health education for short term missions teams
- Church building safety & accessibility
Facilitator of volunteers
- Transportation training
- Card ministry
- Lead Health Ministry Team
- Prayer shawl/knitting ministry
- Hospital/Home Visitation training
- Care baskets for cancer or chronically ill clients
- Care baskets for first time moms
- Stephen Ministry training
- Quilting ministry
- Phone follow-up training for health needs
- Prayer team for health needs & health ministry workers
- Medical equipment library
- Support for seniors, friendly phone call ministry
- Prepared meal team
- Bring worship community to homebound
- Emergency Response Team
- Food pantry/clothing bank
- Blood Drive
Health counselor
- Home visits
- Expectant and new mom visits
- Bulletin boards/bulletin inserts
- Services for healing
- Prayer times
- Participate in clients’ Care Conferences (hospital/long term care)
- Safety checks in church building
- Exercise/aerobics class
- Accompany to doctor’s visits
- First aid kits
- Medication management
- Recognize symptoms & refer
Spiritual support
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Presence
-
Prayer
-
Share our hope in Christ
-
Refer to pastoral care/Stephen Ministry
Health screenings
- Glaucoma
- Cholesterol
- Diabetes
- Blood pressure
- Body mass index
- Organ donation
Referral source
- Resources for people with special needs
- Transition to senior living facility
- Assist in obtaining health services
- Medical needs of uninsured
- In home adjustments to assist in staying at home
- Medical mission’s opportunities
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