What is Parish Nurse Ministry?
Parish Nurse Ministry in the church was developed as a response to Christ's command to continue a healing and caring ministry in the world.
Parish Nurse Ministry promotes wellness in the body of believers – individually and in the community of faith.
Parish Nurse Ministry is a blend of health and faith.
Who is a Parish Nurse?
A parish nurse is a currently licensed registered nurse who facilitates the health of a faith community and, in so doing, expands the healing ministry of Jesus Christ in the church. The focus of the nurse is on the physical, emotional and spiritual dimension of persons as they strive to achieve wellness, wholeness and manage illness. The parish nurse develops a practice in response to the unique needs and resources of the faith community. The parish nurse, in collaboration with the pastoral staff and congregants, participates in the ongoing transformation of the faith community into a source of health and healing.
Parish Nurse Ministry impacts congregations
Stories from Parish Nurses around the NWC:
“An elderly lady who lived alone and had no relatives living close by started showing signs of memory loss. Her out of state relatives became very concerned about her safety. I became the liaison person: communicating with her out of state relatives and accompanying her to doctor appointments. Because of the church’s involvement, she was able to stay in her own home. The importance of my accompanying her to appointments became very clear when I picked her up for an appointment one day and she asked me if I knew how to get to the doctors office - because she didn’t. What you need to know is, that up to this time I let her meet me at the clinic. That particular day I had an urge to call her and tell her I would pick her up. God intervened that day!”
“I love being with people – using my nursing knowledge to help someone journey through a ‘foreign land’ of hospitals, diagnoses and the medical world, all relating to the bigger picture of faith and the ability to withstand life’s crises.”
Download more PN Stories
The Northwest Conference Parish Nurse Commission is committed to envision, develop, resource and nurture health ministries within churches of the Conference.
Goals of the Commission
- To provide a support and communication network for Parish Nurses and churches
- To provide continuing education for Parish Nurses
- To give vision to church leaders for Parish Nurse Ministry
- To network with denominational leadership
This is in conjunction with the primary work of the Conference which is to "serve congregations by enabling ministries, which cannot be accomplished individually."
What can your church do?
Congregations of all sizes, urban and rural, have parish nurses. To have a commission member visit your church or for more information on how your conference can help you start a parish nurse program, contact:
Corrine Benson, Chair of Parish Nurse Commission
corrine44(at)gmail.com
or: The Northwest Conference, 3106 47th Ave. S.,Minneapolis, MN 55406
612-721-4893 or 1-800-756-6692 (within the conference)
What attendees said about the 2011 retreat
“Heart & Soul: Care for the Parish Nurse”
- Time apart to recharge after a hard year.
- Time of silence & solitude after lecture was so powerful.
- Thank you for the time to be still – I needed this.
- I love how we are able to become close to people we have just met because we have so many similarities in our lives.
- Wow! I needed this! I love the resources I received & the opportunity to practice new skills to give me a healthy & “wholy” life.
- Being prayed for is a great gift we don’t often give ourselves.
- A perfect time of reflection & fellowship.
- I know the Spirit meets us in this place, not only thru the speakers, but in the spaces between the agenda.
- I don’t take time for solitude & this retreat allowed solitude & taught me that I need solitude.
- Appreciate time given to allow the Holy Spirit to speak to each of us.
- The Sabbath time reminder was especially apt for me.
