How can I combine my nursing skills with faith in a way that will bring wholeness?Jesus came to bring life in all its fullness ... life that includes physical, mental, social and spiritual wellbeing.Quote from a nurse
"At last I’ve found the kind of work I believe I was really cut out for. I can give quality time to my patients and use my skills to empower others.”
That means we need to encourage congregations to make the connections between faith and health, between healing and wholeness, between spiritual life and physical activities. Not just for themselves but for the people who live and work around them.
Are you a currently registered nurse with community experience of some kind?
If so you can help your church to make these connections in their communities. You could be appointed as a “Parish Nurse” with your ministry team (“Parish” can also mean community or neighbourhood). These hours will count towards your practice hours for registration. If there are other health professionals in your church you can invite them to be part of your project.
Training and support are available through PNMUK.
What can a Parish Nurse do?
- Visit congregational contacts who have health-related problems, and pray with them as appropriate
- Assist the church to offer relevant help at a person’s point of need
- Give personal health advice and help someone to get the most appropriate treatment or care
- Liaise with the local GP surgery and staff
- Encourage the congregation towards more healthy lifestyles
- Motivate volunteers and offer training and opportunities for service in the local community
- Support and work with those already engaged in pastoral care
- Talk to church-based groups about physical and spiritual health issues
- Accompany someone to a stressful medical appointment
- Make links with other voluntary groups and agencies
- Attend and assist with services for healing
- Help you and your leadership team to care for your own health
- Work within the Code of Professional Practice (Nursing and Midwifery Council).
What will a Parish nurse not do?
- A Parish Nurse will not do dressings, injections, and invasive treatments. If these are needed they are provided by the Practice nurse, or District Nursing service.
- S/he will not give advice beyond the competencies for which s/he has been trained.
- S/he will not put pressure on anyone to change their religion or join a particular church.
As a Parish Nurse you may work for any church part-time or full-time, on a paid or voluntary-with-expenses basis. You will have professional and spiritual supervision and be accountable to the NMC and the church.
You will also have a network of support through Parish Nursing Ministries UK, which is now providing training, advice and resources to over 40 churches with Parish Nurses. You will be linked with over 10,000 Parish Nurses around the world.
If this is something you'd like to explore the application form is here.
