Are you a someone who enjoys caring for others?
Would you like to deepen your connection with your faith community?
Consider becoming a faith community nurse (RNs) or health minister (for LPNs, non nurses or nurses with inactive licenses).
What is a Faith Community Nurse?
A Faith Community Nurse is a specialized practice of professional nursing that focuses on the intentional care of the spirit as well as on the promotion of wholistic health and prevention or minimization of illness within the context of a faith community and the wider community. The goals of FCN are as follows:
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Protection, promotion, and optimization of health and abilities;
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Prevention of illness and injury;
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Facilitation of healing;
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Alleviation of suffering through the diagnosis and treatment of human responses; and
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Advocacy in the context of the values, beliefs, and practices of a faith community, such as a church, congregation, parish, synagogue, temple, mosque, or faith-based community agency.
From: American Nurses Association's Faith Community Nursing: Scope and Standards of Practice, 3rd Edition.
Benefits
Thanks to our partnership with PeaceHealth, anyone who completes the Foundations Course will receive:
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a PeaceHealth badge with their name, photo and title.
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Haven't received your badge yet? Contact amelia@healthministriesnetwork.net,
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access to St. Joseph’s Medical Center (SJMC) and Medical Library with badge, and
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an annual flu shot, through the SJMC flu shot clinic.
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Current volunteers can make an appointment by calling 360-788-6300 x2563.
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Steps to become a faith community nurse or health minister:
1. Talk to others at your church, especially other health ministry volunteers and your church leadership.
2. Apply for the annual Foundations Course. Applications are typically accepted between December and March.
3. Attend the course (in-person and online) and learn from experienced faith community nurses. As part of participation in the course, you will build a plan for health ministry.
4. Obtain personal malpractice, liability and/or auto insurance. For ideas and resources, visit https://westberginstitute.org/liability-information/.
4. Begin your own health ministry within your congregation.
5. Attend monthly HMN meetings to stay updated on approaches and local resources by connecting with other volunteers and local professionals. This meeting also provides hours for licensing.
For more information on how to get involved, contact us at director@healthministriesnetwork.net.