The Parish Nurse Coordinator

Abstract

Parish nursing has emerged as a specialized professional nursing practice in the past 10 years. Nursing literature addressing the functions of the parish nurse role in a faith community or congregation has become more prevalent in recent years. However, there is very little literature that examines the role of the parish nurse (PN) in a program leadership position. The purpose of this qualitative descriptive study is to describe the role and functions of the parish nurse coordinator (PNC) charged with leadership of a group of PNs networked together as a P N program. Specifically, this article highlights the demographics of PNCs across the United States, what they value most about being a PNC, and the challenges they experience in this leadership role. Findings are examined in light of their potential for contributing to the growth and development of nursing leadership that incorporates the spiritual dimension.

You Are Not Alone

“…Brudenell (2003) proposed that parish nurses link family caregivers to community resources as a strategy to overcome the fragmented healthcare system and meet the needs of the congregation. Other experts described the role as a coordinator who helps patients bridge between two competing worldviews of the medical model and the centrality of spirituality in one's well-being (Dyess, Chase, & Newlin, 2010;Schweitzer, Norberg, & Larson, 2002). The concept of bridging challenges appears to be similar to the concept of sustaining health as proposed by Dyess and Chase (2012) in their theoretical model of faith community nursing.…”

Clergy Knowledge and Attitudes Concerning Faith Community Nursing: Toward a Three-Dimensional Scale

“…FCN practice continues to be primarily unpaid. Within 583 faith communities, 87% of FCNs were volunteers (Schweitzer, Norberg, & Larson, 2002). Within most faith communities, there is an expectation for service within the community.…”

“…FCN coordinators are generally employed in an administrative capacity by healthcare institutions. They also view spirituality as central to their role; however, they report frustration in keeping spirituality central to their program within the medical model context (Schweitzer et al, 2002).…”