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To date, there are about 65 parishes in the Archdiocese that have one or more parish nurses as part of the pastoral staff. A parish nurse is a professional registered nurse who delivers primary, holistic nursing services in a parish. Often the nurse is part-time and may work with more than one parish or congregation.
In an effort to promote education about parish health ministry, the Parish Leadership Newsletter will regularly address the topic of parish nursing. Basically, the nurse focuses on the spiritual, psycho-social, physical and environmental dimensions of parishioners in regard to wellness and management of illness or disease.
The parish nurse is a member of the pastoral team. The nurse works with the pastor or parish director, staff and volunteers to promote health and wellness by way of the Gospel and through the practice of the nursing profession. The parish nurse advises other staff about health-related issues pertinent to the parish.
Parish nursing may include pastoral visits to the sick and home-bound members of the parish (this might include the sharing of Communion). It does not focus on hands-on delivery of traditional nursing care. The nurse does not replace other healthcare professionals in the community, but works collaboratively with them.
Within the “Church As Teacher” theme, the parish nurse has several key roles, including health educator, health counselor, referral agent, and healthcare advocate. The nurse might be full-time, part-time, paid or volunteer. Some nurses are “placed” by a local hospital or healthcare system. They are members of the pastoral team of a parish and should be included in staff meetings and staff planning / retreat opportunities. The parish nurse works with the pastoral staff to integrate health ministry into the life of the parish.
Providing support and assistance to the parish nurse is important to help a parish meet its health ministry goals. Health ministry presents opportunities for strengthening evangelization, outreach and service efforts in parishes. It is closely aligned with the social ministry mission of the parish.
Nurses who work in Catholic parishes in the Archdiocese will be invited to meet and network several times a year. The purpose of these gatherings will be two-fold: for spiritual reflection with other parish nurses and to address practical concerns voiced by the nurses. Please watch for details of these gatherings in future editions of the Parish Leadership Newsletter.
by Peg Flahive, Office for Human Concerns.
For resources on parish health ministry or for more information, contact Peg Flahive in the Office for Human Concerns, 414-769-3426, 800-769-9373, x426 or email humanconcerns@archmil.org
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