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The Introductory Course we offer is validated by the International Parish Nurse Resource Centre. Our tutors are ministers, registered nurse tutors, and lecturers in health studies, and we follow a UK adapted version of the International curriculum. This includes something on each of the seven functions that the parish nurse may wish to develop, alongside ethics, legal issues and practice development. Integrated with each teaching session are references to Biblical models for healthy living, spiritual care and the place of prayer in the church’s ministry of health. We ask that each student commences a portfolio of practice development that is seen by a tutor during the first 18 months of practice, and when this is deemed to be satisfactory the badge and certificate of the International Parish Nurse Resource Centre is awarded. Six months later we invite all the students to return for a day to compare notes, meet the new nurses and benefit from a further study day. All this is included in the total price, which at present is £545.00, payable to Parish Nursing Ministries UK.*
Here is the comment that someone made after the most recent course;
“It was a great pleasure to be a part of the training programme this past week. I really enjoyed the time with you and the rest of the group….The whole course was presented with such great professionalism and yet a touch of homeliness. Thank you so much for a most fulfilling week “
Our students are all registered nurses with some community experience, which may be within the NHS or in voluntary work. They are often health visitors, district nurses or practice nurses, but we also have mental health nurses and occupational health nurses. They come with the sponsorship of the church that wishes to appoint them, normally for a three year extendable period. They can only practise to the competence for which they have been trained, so they are encouraged to refer to other practitioners when they encounter a situation that requires additional training. Some of them may be in the process of undertaking back to nursing courses in order to re-register before they can practise as parish nurses.**
The local church will want to understand the concept a little before committing to having a parish nurse, and so one of our regional coordinators may be able to come and talk to the church before the course is undertaken.***.
There is an agreement for the church to sign along with the application form. Occasionally, a nurse feels called to do the course before the church is ready to embark on a project and this can be a helpful way of learning more about the concept to take back to the church. If the church eventually decides not to go ahead, then it may be that another local church would be able to appoint the nurse to work with their congregation.
*£50 is a deposit on booking, £195 is payable one month before the commencement of the course in order to secure the accommodation, and £300.00 is payable on the first day of the course. Help with the cost is often given by the local church sponsoring the nurse, or sometimes through denominational local training grants.
**Someone who is not a registered nurse is welcome to attend all of part of the course but cannot be called a nurse, receive certification or practise as a nurse.
*** the church’s offer to refund expenses for this visit is welcomed.
