Pittsburgh Mercy Health System
Parish Nurse Program
Parish Nursing
Parish nursing (faith community nursing) is recognized by the American Nurses Association as a specialty practice requiring knowledge and experience in two areas: professional nursing and spiritual care.
Parish nurses use their professional skills to care for the health needs of the church congregation. Bridging today’s worlds of medicine and religion, parish nurses carry on the legacy of the religious orders of the early church who cared for the sick.
Parish nurses help those who have problems that are affecting the health of the body, mind, and spirit. Using their nursing expertise, parish nurses assess the situation, counsel, and make referrals, often serving as advocates to help people receive services. Parish nurses offer health education programs and support groups to encourage a healthy lifestyle.
Parishioners Helping Each Other
Parish nurses coordinate the efforts of volunteer health ministers who are interested in reaching out to members of their parish family. A healthcare background is not necessary. Health ministers visit sick and homebound parishioners, assist with health promotion activities in the parish, and volunteer in parish outreaches like food pantries, resale shops, and other charitable works.
Nurses have long observed that when illness or brokenness occurs, people turn to God. Medical research supports that prayer and spirituality have a positive impact on wellness and recovery from illness.
As parish nurses help in many practical ways, they are also helping individuals to recognize how God is present in their daily lives giving strength, meaning, and hope.
In this way, parish nurses assist the church to carry out the healing ministry of Jesus.
Jesus told his disciples to preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick.
Luke 9:2
To fulfill this healing mission, parish nurses work with pastors, volunteers, and caregivers to meet the needs of members of the church congregation and also those in the community.
What Parish Nurses Do:
Integrator of Faith and Health
- reminds people to care for their body, mind, and spirit
- prays with those in need
- links them to pastoral care
Health Educator
- provides information on health topics in the bulletin, group presentations, and one-on-one
- helps people to make needed lifestyle changes
Personal Health Counselor
- gives people an opportunity to discuss health concerns early, before a serious problem develops
- explains medical terminology so the individual understands
- provides advice and encouragement to follow a healthy lifestyle
- conducts blood pressure screenings and other health assessments
Referral Agent
- provides referrals to doctors, social agencies, and community resources
Health Advocate
- helps individuals to obtain needed health services
- if a person has no family to help them, may mean going along to the doctor’s appointment, making phone calls, etc.
Developer of Support Groups
- bereavement, weight loss, cancer survivors, exercise, diabetes, widows/widowers, family caregivers, low vision, new moms, etc.
Volunteer Coordinator
- recruits and coordinates volunteers to help those in need: homebound, food pantry, meals-on-wheels, clothing bank, etc.
You shall love your neighbor as yourself.
Leviticus 19:18, Matthew 22:39
