Parish Nursing

About Parish Nursing
Not a cure for sick parishes!
Not a private care plan for elderly vicars!
Not a strategy for giving injections and treatments
Not even traditional nursing or health advice by
people using church premises.

It is….. Churches of all denominations appointing registered nurses with community experience to promote whole person health care in their local communities,

For people of all faiths and none,i
ncluding an intentional focus on spiritual care.

Parish Nursing has been established in the US for over 20 years, and is practised in Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Korea, South Africa, Germany, Finland and Swaziland. Parish Nursing only came to England a few years ago, and there are about now 30 Parish Nursing projects throughout England, employing nearly 40 nurses. A pilot project in Parish Nursing is planned to commence in September 2008, based in The Steeple Church. A Parish Nurse is a Registered Nurse who works through the local church, offering spiritual as well as physical and mental care. Parish Nurses may be health educators, they may refer people to their GP or other appropriate agencies, train and coordinate volunteer activity, act as a person’s advocate through life events and health problems. They will be part of a ministry team, supporting the pastoral work of the church. The way that any Parish Nurse serves will reflect the ministry and needs of the congregation within its community. Parish Nurses come from a wide variety of denominational backgrounds.

An essential component of practice is the need to work in a complementary and communicative way with both health care professionals and ministers of religion. As a professional the nurse is accountable to the Nursing and Midwifery Council of the UK, which sets rigorous standards of practice and conduct. Accountability to the church assures spiritual mentoring and theological discipline. Most Parish Nurses work on a voluntary basis, while some are paid, some are full-time, and many work part-time. They are employed by and serve the church in their local community, respecting people of all faiths and none.