1. Faith Community Nursing
Chapter 32
Faith Community Nursing
Copyright © 2015, 2011, 2007, 2001, 1997, 1993 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc.

2. “What if churches, mosques, and temples worked together to improve the health of their communities? If faith groups adopted one small area and made sure that every single child was immunized … that every person had a basic medical exam … that every woman who became pregnant would get prenatal care? Are these possible? We believe the answer is yes.”
– President Jimmy Carter, The Interfaith Health Program (2005)
Copyright © 2015, 2011, 2007, 2001, 1997, 1993 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc.

3. Faith Community Nursing: Role in Health and Wellness
Throughout history, churches provided care for the indigent and disenfranchised, meeting basic needs and basic health care.
Many religions have traditions and rituals related to health and healing.
Some religions give specific guidelines for ministering to ill, homebound, or dying members.
All major religions describe the relationship among health, healing, and wholeness.
Copyright © 2015, 2011, 2007, 2001, 1997, 1993 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc.

4. Faith Community Nursing: Role in Health and Wellness (Cont.)
Old Testament discusses Shalom, or God’s desire for health and wholeness
New Testament documents healing activities of Jesus, restoring health to people
The Talmud describes the importance of maintaining physical health and vigor so that Jewish people will understand God’s will in their lives.
Followers of Buddhism believe that health and healing are connected and illness occurs when there is an imbalance between life and the environment
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5. – Myers (2004) and Koenig & George (2004)
Faith communities contribute to the well-being of their members through support, prayer, and providing a sense of hope.
– Myers (2004) and Koenig & George (2004)
Individuals who reported intrinsic religion (internalized or regularly practiced) and regular attendance at a religious service reported decreased stress.
– Williams & Sternthal (2007)
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6. …“religion provides things that are good for health and well-being, including social support, existential meaning, a sense of purpose, a coherent belief system and a clear moral code.”
– Eckersley (2007)
People who reported the highest level of religious involvement also reported practicing healthier lifestyles, including exercising more and smoking less.
– Tsuang, Williams, & Lyons (2002); Myers (2004, 2008)
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7. A positive correlation between religion and health has recently been termed the faith factor.
– Handbook of Religion and Faith,
Koenig, King, & Carson (2012)
Community health nursing has evolved from early church efforts to provide care for the sick and disenfranchised. Modern parish nursing focuses on the global health and wellness issues of all people and has its roots in more recent efforts to encourage the re-emergence and blending of health care roles into the healing ministry of faith communities.
– Hickman (2006); Patternson (2004);
Solari-Twadell & McDermott (1999)
Copyright © 2015, 2011, 2007, 2001, 1997, 1993 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc.

8. Foundations of Faith Community Nursing
Rev. Granger Westberg, a Lutheran minister, is considered the founder of the modern FCN movement.
Envisioned a partnership between the hospital and all church congregations in the hospital’s community.
1984: Proposed first parish nurse program at Lutheran General Hospital in Chicago.
Six nurses hired in Chicago area in 1985, funded primarily by churches.
Copyright © 2015, 2011, 2007, 2001, 1997, 1993 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc.

9. Foundations of Faith Community Nursing (Cont.)
International Parish Nurse Resource Center (IPNRC) provides leadership for FCN; in 2011 moved to community outreach division of the Church Health Center in Memphis, TN
ANA and Health Ministry Association (HMA) established Scope and Standards of Parish Nurse Practice in 1998; revised in 2005 to Faith Community Nursing
FCN now practiced in more than 23 countries; nurses identify themselves in a manner most accepted by faith communities.
Copyright © 2015, 2011, 2007, 2001, 1997, 1993 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc.

10. Key Elements of Faith Nursing
Spiritual dimension is central to the practice.
Balances nursing science and technology with service and spiritual care.
Clients are members of the faith community defined by the church and its public service philosophy.
Services built on principles of self-care and capacity building with a focus on understanding the connection between health and the individual’s relationship with God, faith traditions, nursing, and the broader society.
Holistic health is a dynamic process that requires a connection among the person’s spiritual, psychological, physical, and social dimensions.
– Solari-Twadell & McDermott (1999); Westberg (1999)
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11. Nursing in Faith Communities
“Parish nursing (aka faith community nursing) is the intentional integration of the practice of faith with the practice of nursing so that people can achieve wholeness in, with, and through communities of faith in which the parish nurse serves. Parish nurses educate, advocate, and activate people to take positive action regarding wellness, prevention, appropriate treatment of illness, and social and spiritual connections with God, members of their congregations, and their wider community.”
– Patterson (2004)
Copyright © 2015, 2011, 2007, 2001, 1997, 1993 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc.

12. Roles/Functions of the Faith Community Nurse
Health educator
Personal health counselor
Referral agent
Health advocate
Coordinator of volunteers
Developer of support groups
Integrator of health and healing
– Hickman (2007); IPNRC (2013)
Copyright © 2015, 2011, 2007, 2001, 1997, 1993 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc.

13. Suggested Core Curriculum for Faith Community Nurse
Spirituality
History and philosophy of FCN
Self-care
Healing and wholeness
Professionalism
Ethical issues
Documenting practice
Legal issues
Beginning an FCN ministry
Communication and collaboration
Holistic Care
Health promotion
Transforming life issues (e.g., family violence, suffering, loss, grief)
Community
Assessment
Resources
Advocacy
Care coordination
– IPNRS (2009)
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14. The FC Nurse and Spirituality
Spirituality: “the human desire for a sense of meaning, purpose, connection, and fulfillment through intimate relationships and life experiences.”
– Wright (2005)
Spiritual distress: “a disruption in the life principle that pervades a person’s entire being and that integrates and transcends one’s theological and psychosocial nature.”
– NANDA (1992)
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15. CIRCLE Model of Spiritual Care
C aring
I ntuition
R espect for religious beliefs and practices
C aution
L istening
E motional support
– Schnorr (1988, 2003)
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16. … through prayer, spiritual assessment, and hope and faith, the FCN facilitates important client outcomes for spiritual health and well-being, including self-esteem, self-actualization, hope, trust, and peace.
– Hickman (2006)
Copyright © 2015, 2011, 2007, 2001, 1997, 1993 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc.

17. Issues in Faith Community Nurse Practice
Providing care to vulnerable populations
End-of-life issues: grief and loss
Family violence prevention
Confidentiality
Accountability
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18. Providing Care to Vulnerable Populations
FNC works as a member of a caring church community to meet the health and related needs of vulnerable populations
Sponsor and support refugees
Develop programs for homeless individuals and their families
Provide assistance and resources to low-income families
Provide resources to entire communities during disasters
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19. End-of-Life Issues: Grief and Loss
Partner with hospice and home care nurses to provide palliative care to members
Educational sessions on living wills
Establish health care surrogates
Understanding hospice and palliative care
Home visits to dying congregational members
Emotional support to family and survivors
Development of grief support groups
Copyright © 2015, 2011, 2007, 2001, 1997, 1993 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc.

20. Family Violence Prevention
Understand risk factors for family, child, and elder abuse
Knowledge of the cycle of abuse
Assessment skills related to identification of individuals and families at risk for violence
Intimate partner violence (IPV)
Child abuse or neglect
Elder abuse
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21. Confidentiality
Code for Nurses (ANA) and Scope and Standards of Faith Community Nursing Practice (ANA) provide ethical guidance to FNC
Protect client’s right to confidentiality of health and health-related conditions
Share confidential information with other church ministry leaders (or prayer groups) with the client’s permission
FCN not required to follow HIPAA guidelines because congregations are not identified as health providers
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22. Accountability Same degree of accountability as paid employees
Not exempt from discrimination laws
May be required to disclose confidential information in court
Accountable to nursing standards and civil laws designed to protect individuals from abuse, neglect, and discrimination
Copyright © 2015, 2011, 2007, 2001, 1997, 1993 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc.