FAQs: Faith Community Nursing
- What is Faith Community Nursing?
- Why has the name changed from "Parish Nursing" to "Faith Community Nursing"?
- Why should a church consider Faith Community Nursing?
- Is Faith Community Nursing too costly for a smaller church to get involved?
- How could a church possibly begin another ministry like Faith Community Nursing?
- What kinds of ministries can a Faith Community Nurse provide?
- What are the benefits for a Faith Community Nurse program for the church?
- Should a church or church members wait to get involved in a Faith Community Nurse program until the economy improves?
- If a church begins a Faith Community Nurse program, how can they sustain it?
- What help is available to churches and individuals to find out about Faith Community Nursing and getting a ministry started?
- What Faith Community Nurses are doing in EFCA churches (List of ideas for your church)
What is Faith Community Nursing?
This church ministry allows a professional nurse to use both their nursing skills and spiritual gifts to help individuals of all ages and cultures become physically, emotionally, socially and spiritually healthy. Faith Community Nurses promote health and prevent or minimize illness. Nurses become beacons of hope – hope that wellness is attainable and hope in Christ in the midst of their illness.
Why has the name changed from "Parish Nursing" to "Faith Community Nursing"?
The term Parish Nurse came about in the 80s when this practice was first started by a Chicago Lutheran chaplain, Granger Westberg. Recently the American Nursing Association wrote a revised Scope and Standards for this nursing specialty. The ANA needed a term to describe this specialty which would be universal – hence Faith Community Nursing.
Why should a church consider Faith Community Nursing?
The church is often the first place people come with their health needs. The nurse can enhance the ministry of the present staff and existing programs through a loving presence, attentive listening and prayer. Because the nurse is already connected with health systems, she can refer them to the appropriate sources and become their advocate. The nurse will earn the trust of the congregation and will often be the first one they call when illness comes. As health care systems become increasingly complex, the FCN provides an outreach to the community as persons are often uncertain, unaware or uninformed. The nurse facilitates outreach by drawing persons into the church by providing for their felt needs.
Is Faith Community Nursing too costly for a smaller church to get involved?
Faith Community Nurses are serving in congregations of all sizes. Some may work as unpaid staff until funding is available. On the average in a smaller congregation the nurses are working 8 to 10 hours per week. They often provide for many of the care ministries of a smaller church. In the church when one becomes ill, they are surrounded by people who knew them when they were healthy. It becomes a natural setting for the nurse to connect those who need help with caring people already in the congregation.
How could a church possibly begin another ministry like Faith Community Nursing?
Actually the nurse often relieves the staff of work rather than adding to it. In ministry they complement the work of the pastor, affirm his role and take referrals from the pastor for follow-up. The nurse also works to enhance already existing ministries. A Faith Community Nurse with a passion and calling for ministry attends a preparation course and is trained to work independently. Another great resource is Elim Care’s FCN coordinator who is available to help churches get a health ministry started. The coordinator is a consultant, resource provider and supporter to nurses, the staff and people of the congregation.
What kinds of ministries can a Faith Community Nurse provide?
The list is endless. Visits, referrals to families dealing with illness/crisis, support groups, prayer with those who have health concerns, medical missions, disability education and inclusion, babysitting skills education, first aide kits, CPR training, health education, mental wellness/ counseling, fitness programs, new baby visits, health screenings (blood pressure, blood sugars, osteoporosis), domestic violence awareness, counseling services, healing service, referrals to appropriate sources, first aide training for ushers/greeters, listening and more. Above all, nurses share their hope in Christ to those to whom they are ministering.
What are the benefits of a Faith Community Nurse program for the church?
The nurse:
- Optimizes present and future health by providing education and wellness programs.
- Helps to insure that no one falls through the cracks.
- Provides congregants with a conscious partnering of their health with their faith in Christ.
- Has the ability to speak languages of both faith and health.
- Helps navigate health systems by knowing what questions to ask and where to go for help.
- Organizes, trains and sustains volunteers.
- Speaks from a Christian perspective on a clients’ behalf with hospital or long term care staff.
- Provides the church with a deeper sense of Christian community.
- Is an outreach to the surrounding community.
The ultimate goal is to bring Christ to those who do not know Him, to strengthen in Christ to those who do know Him, and to bring Christ’s mercy, compassion and His presence to all.
Should a church or church members wait to get involved in a Faith Community Nursing program until the economy improves?
Don’t wait! Start small. A nurse often is a bargain to the church and community. Here are some benefits:
- People stay in your church because they feel cared for both physically and spiritually.
- Brings individuals in the surrounding community to the church by offering pertinent health education, support groups and fitness programs.
- Brings friends to the church because they hear that people feel cared for at the church.
- Saves lives because nurses recognize symptoms at early stages and refer people to appropriate resources.
- Brings an understanding of health care to those who are disillusioned and have given up on treating their symptoms and encourages them to seek needed medical care.
- Saves people money when provided with understanding of insurance reimbursements.
- Keeps older persons in their own homes longer through visits and referrals to community programs.
- Saves uninsured persons money by referrals to community clinics, county/state programs, and free or discounted medication programs.
If a church begins a Faith Community Nursing program, how can they sustain it?
The program will be sustained by the ministry provided by the Faith Community Nurse. Persons will begin telling others of the help given by the nurse – a referral to a much needed source, an education that helped them cope in their circumstance, a support group that provided hope to their grieving neighbor, having someone who actually took time to sit, listen and pray with them. Elim Care’s Faith Community Nurse Program also provides education and networking for the nurses to bolster their ministries. We will assist in evaluating your ministry and provide help to anticipate challenges.
What help is available to churches and individuals to find out about Faith Community Nursing and getting a ministry started?
The Elim FCN program provides resources to nurses who may be interested. As Elim’s FCN coordinator, I am available to area churches and nurses to answer questions or make presentations which provide vision and an understanding on how to develop a Faith Community Nursing ministry. I am available to come to your area church and meet with pastors, staff, church boards, nurses or any health enthusiast to introduce what FCN is all about and brainstorm with you on how this ministry would fit into your existing ministries and goals.
“People’s faith has a very strong influence over their well-being, their willingness to fight disease and their ability to get well. Until recently, the medical community too often overlooked faith’s role in health” (John Templeton, Jr. MD, Christianity Today).
What Faith Community Nurses are doing in EFCA churches
Follow the link for a downloadable document listing ideas for your church community as to how nurses may come alongside the generations and ministries in your church body.
EFCA FCNN FAQ authors
Ed Bender, Vice President Spiritual Life & Enrichment, Elim Care, Inc.
Mary Van Der Werf, Faith Community Nursing Coordinator, Elim Care, Inc
Note: In 2009 Elim Care, an EFCA affiliate ministry, added Faith Community Nursing to its many ministries. The Faith Community Nursing ministry was added to develop and sustain Faith Community Nurses (Parish Nurses) in local churches and their communities.
