What is a Faith Community Nurse?
Faith Community Nursing (FCN) is recognized as a specialty nursing practice. A Faith Community Nurse is a registered nurse who has completed specialized educational preparation in providing intentional care of the spirit in order to promote health, healing and wholeness with the members of a faith community. The hallmark of this specialty involves promoting health, healing and wholeness within the context of a faith community to promote healthy minds, bodies, spirits and communities. They are not physicians, home health nurses, therapists or clergy (although all faith community nurses come to the field with a deep spiritual commitment). Most choose to do no hands-on nursing care, but rather, make referrals for medical and nursing services where appropriate. FCN’s can reinforce teaching about medications or medical treatment as well as encourage healthy lifestyles among members of the congregation. They serve as the connection between the members of the faith community and health care s
A Faith Community Nurse (FCN) is an experienced registered nurse whose central focus is intentional care of the spirit. Faith Community Nurses offer a healing presence within a faith community, weaving the spiritual with the standards of practice and code of ethics for the nursing profession. FCN’s serve as a connection between health care and the faith community by providing wholistic care of body, mind and spirit for those served. As members of the ministerial staff, the Faith Community nurse works alongside members both within and outside the walls of a faith community to empower them to make positive health choices that will enable them to live the abundant life that is possible for all regardless of the state of their current health status. Roles may include health counselor, health educator, health advocate, and referral agent for community services. Formerly called Parish Nursing, Faith Community Nursing is a specialty practice in nursing recognized by the American Nurses Associ
