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Churches do just that when they participate in Faith Community Nursing (FCN). Based on the Judeo-Christian tradition that supports health and healing, FCN is a health education ministry based on teaching, counseling and advocacy.

Nationwide there are more than 10,000 FCN nurses who set up and manage health education programs and serve as links between churches communities and healthcare agencies, said Sharon T. Hinton, MSN, RN, FCN, educator, International Parish Nurse Resource Center. 

Deep in the Heart

One such group is Wesley Nurse Health Ministries, which is part of Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas, Inc (MHM).

Among them are 80 RNs who run health education ministries at 76 Methodist church communities in an area the size of Kansas, often being the only healthcare providers available, according to director Roy Phillips, MSN, RN. 

Programs are focused on nutrition, weight management, diabetes prevention and diabetes teaching "because two-thirds of Texans are overweight," said Vicki Krcha, RN, a Wesley nurse from Kenedy, TX [sic]. 

Individual counseling and group teaching services are available for this large Spanish community through "Do Well Be Well" programs sponsored by the Texas Department of Agriculture. Most participants speak English but educational materials are available in Spanish for those who do not, Krcha explained.

"In addition, many of our clients are underserved and do not have health insurance, so MHM provides educational materials and diabetic supplies for those in need," she said.

Faith Community Nursing is not for every nurse because it involves community education rather than hands-on nursing skills and some nurses may fear losing clinical skills competency, Phillips pointed out.

"Saying that, job satisfaction for our nurses is off the scales," he added, "and retention rates are phenomenal."

Getting Started

Experienced RNs who complete faith community nurse preparatory courses are qualified to establish health ministries. Faith communities vary in size, so awareness of demographic differences is important when planning needs assessments.

"Small congregations won't have the same needs as large ones and you need to prioritize because you can't do everything," said Mary Cleary Ierardi, MS, RN, CNA, LNC, advisory board chair, Interfaith and Wellness Association of South Florida. 

The Parish Nursing Movement began during the 1960s, sponsored by the American Lutheran Church and the work of Rev. Granger Westberg, a Lutheran minister and chaplain at a Chicago hospital.  

Westberg was instrumental in starting medical clinics for the poor; however, due to a 1970s national economic downturn and a lack of funding the clinics closed. His 1990s book, Parish Nursing, attracted more public support and the parish nurses movement has gained momentum.  

The American Nurses Association in 1977 recognized parish nursing as a model for FCNs as specialty within community nursing. The ANA's Faith Community Nursing: Scope and Standards of Practice, written in collaboration with the Health Ministries Association, was released in 2005. On Jan. 6 of this year, ANA released another book on the topic, Faith Community Nursing: Developing a Quality Practice. 

To qualify for ANA certification as a FCN, candidates must be RNs who have completed basic preparation courses with a minimum of 32 hours of course content. A BSN is not required. Fees for the certification process are $390 for non-HMA members and $270 for HMA members. 

Liability issues for FCNs are not paramount because the health and wellness programs, or health ministries, are primarily pastoral, not clinical, and invasive medical procedures are not practiced. Clients are referred to hospitals, home care agencies or other institutions for treatments and/or interventions.

The median age for faith community nurses in both Texas and Florida is 50 while ranging from 25 to 75.