Client Perceptions of Parish Nursing

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine parish nursing from a client's perspective. Parish nursing is a relatively new health delivery model that has rarely been investigated. In order to describe the client perception, an ethnographic approach was used. The convenience sample included clients from two congregations in a southeastern Appalachian area served by parish nurses. Face-to-face client interviews were conducted, and the Spradley's ethnographic approach to data analysis of transcripts was used. Each interview was analyzed separately by the research group for patterns and meanings reflecting the emic perspective. Five themes of client perception of parish nursing emerged from the data: (1) being available, (2) integrating spirituality and health, (3) helping us help ourselves, (4) exploring parish nursing, and (5) evaluating parish nursing.Clients perceived having a parish nurse as positive and beneficial for individuals, the congregation, the church, and community. Parish nursing was viewed as a useful, meaningful, and effective health intervention and setting, and parish nurses were viewed as effective and meaningful health providers. Further exploration of the effectiveness of this nursing delivery model is warranted.

You Are Not Alone

“…She describes this as the opportunity of the parish nurse to be fully present (body, heart, and soul) during a person's physical illness or suffering. Wallace, Tuck, Boland, and Witucki (2002) described the parish nurse as being available as part of presence. The theme of presence has been associated with active listening as one of the most common strategies used by parish nurses when providing care (Solari-Twadell & Hackbarth, 2010).…”

The Health of Sexual Minorities

“…Parish nursing programs, in which registered professional nurses are embedded in church congregations to provide health services and education to fellow parishioners (Anderson, 2004), represent prime examples of how religious and health organizations can collaborate to achieve the common goal of promoting health among ethnic minority LGBPs. Although churches with predominantly ethnic minority memberships have been shown to offer several social and health services, few have implemented programs that integrate formal healthcare services into the church setting (Blank et al, 2002) even though these programs are frequently perceived to be highly desirable among many minority parishioners (Madison & McGadney, 2000;Wallace et al, 2002). Thus, it would be wise for interventions to promoting parish nursing in congregations that may include ethnic minority LGBP members.…”

Spiritual Interventions and the Impact of a Faith Community Nursing Program

“…In numerous studies, participants have indicated that spiritual interventions are expected, desired, acknowledged, and appreciated (Bergquist & King, 1994;Burkhart, Konicek, Moorhead, & Androwich, 2005;Maddox, 2002;Wallace, Tuck, Boland, & Witucki, 2002). The most frequently documented spiritual interventions include providing spiritual support or care, facilitating coping mechanisms, assisting with grieving processes, offering presence, and being available.…”

“…The most frequently documented spiritual interventions include providing spiritual support or care, facilitating coping mechanisms, assisting with grieving processes, offering presence, and being available. Faith community nurses also complete spiritual assessments, assist with end-of-life issues, instill hope, clarify the relationship between faith and health, use touch, encourage humor, and clarify values, taking into 300 C. I. SHORES consideration individual religious practices (Bard, 2006;Bitner & Woodward, 2004;Bokinskie & Evanson, 2009;Bokinskie & Kloster, 2008;Burkhart & Androwich, 2004;Burkhart et al, 2005;Chase-Ziolek & Iris, 2002;Coenen, Weis, Schank, & Matheus, 1999;Hinton, 2009;King & Tessaro, 2009;Koenig, 2008;Kuhn, 1997;Maddox, 2000;McCabe & Somers, 2009;McDermott & Burke, 1993;McGinnis & Zoske, 2008;Mendelson, McNeese-Smith, Koniak-Griffin, Nyamathi, & Lu, 2008;Miskelly, 1995;O'Brien, 2006;Quenstedt-Moe, 2003;Rydholm, 2006;Tuck & Wallace, 2000;Van Dover & Pfeiffer, 2007;van Loon, 1998;Wallace et al, 2002;Weis, Matheus, & Schank, 1997;Weis, Schank, Coenen, & Matheus, 2002).…”

“…The benefits of faith community nursing have been identified as personal spiritual growth or development, stronger faith beliefs, enhanced spiritual well-being, increased awareness of the faith-health connection, and greater knowledge of the role of spirituality in health and illness (Bokinskie & Kloster, 2008;Kuhn, 1997;McDermott & Burke, 1993;Miles, 1997;Schweitzer, Norberg, & Larson, 2002;Scott & Summer, 1993;Van Dover and Pfeiffer, 2007;Wallace et al, 2002). Client outcomes related to spiritual interventions include (a) increased hope, faith, trust, calmness, peace, and spiritual growth; (b) enhanced self-esteem, self-identity, and self-actualization; (c) improved physical and emotional well-being; and (d) increased awareness of the relationship between faith and health (Bergquist & King, 1994).…”