Parish Nursing

Congregations have been promoting health and wholeness for centuries. Christians have started hospitals and hospices; denominations have trained hospital chaplains, and churches have employed nurses as deaconesses.

But with the development of the NHS, health care has become more distanced from the church. Christian health professionals and chaplains do a great job, but sometimes feel restricted by regulations and time pressures that prevent them from praying with patients when they feel that spiritual care is what is needed. At the same time, in our culture, health, fitness and spirituality have begun to be of great importance to people, completely outside of the church.

Parish Nursing is a way of rediscovering the essential wholeness of the gospel as Jesus proclaimed it - body and soul. Churches are encouraged to recognise and employ specially trained nurses as part of their ministry teams to deliver holistic health care.

Parish nurses are not purveyors of injections and dressings. They are nurse practitioners, with experience in preventive medicine and some theological training. They are staff members of the church’s ministry team, working together with the congregation to promote the holistic message of the gospel in the local community.

A small, interdenominational and multi-professional group has taken on the task of promoting parish nursing in the UK. Pilot projects are being set up and will be properly evaluated.

An induction course for health professionals is available, and it’s hoped that post-graduate learning modules will be developed for those who wish to take up this role. Continuing in-service training will be accessible, and accreditation processes will be developed.

Is this something in which your church might be interested? Go to www.parishnursing.co.uk for more details.

Last Updated 03 December 2010