Faith Community Nurse Career Overview
Parish nurses take on various roles, blending faith and health in their work. 
Faith community nurses, also known as parish nurses, are registered nurses (RNs) specializing in healthcare grounded in spiritual principles. They concentrate on holistic health, aiming to prevent and alleviate illnesses in diverse faith-based communities and organizations.
How long to become: 2-4 years
Job outlook: 7% growth from 2019-2029 for Registered Nurses (RNs) according to BLS
Average earning potential: $62,000-$66,000
SOURCE: PayScale
Struggling to meet your deadline?
Get your assignment on Faith Community Nurse Career Overview done by certified MDs and PhDs in the USA. ORDER NOW!
What Does a Faith Community Nurse Do?
Parish nurses take on various roles, integrating faith and health in their practices. Their primary responsibilities include:
Primary Responsibilities
1. Providing education on health issues management, home self-care, and health maintenance.
2. Counseling on integrating faith and healing.
3. Referring clients to other specialists and resources.
4. Advocating on behalf of individual clients and at the policy level.
5. Developing spiritual support groups.
6. Recommending improvements for physical and spiritual health and wellness.
Skills Learned
– Knowledge of spiritual beliefs and practices.
– Personal spirituality.
– Organizational skills.
– Flexibility.
– Self-motivation.
– Strong communication skills.
Where Do Faith Community Nurses Work?
Faith community nurse jobs can be found in churches of all denominations, faith-based organizations, community service centers, social service agencies, and hospitals. Below are some of the duties of parish nurses in different settings:
Parishes
– Counseling parishioners with health concerns and other healthcare needs.
– Visiting patients in hospitals and care facilities.
– Coordinating volunteers to assist church members with meals, transportation, and visits.
Community Service Centers
– Referring clients to healthcare resources.
– Liaising among faith-based congregations, hospitals, and community partnerships.
– Educating clients about disease prevention and wellness maintenance.
Hospitals
– Collaborating with other multi-faith chaplains and healthcare staff.
– Integrating spirituality into the healing process.
– Advocating for patients to care providers.
Why Become a Faith Community Nurse?
Parish nurse jobs offer several benefits, but as a relatively new specialty area, faith community nursing also has drawbacks. The table below highlights some pros and cons:
Advantages to Becoming a Faith Community Nurse
– Opportunity to work outside of hospitals and medical facilities in settings such as churches and other faith-based sites, community service centers, and clients’ homes.
– The specialty’s holistic approach, focusing on mental, physical, social, and spiritual well-being.
– Jobs that offer autonomy to care for clients without significant oversight.
– Interesting and varied job duties, such as advocate, coordinator, counselor, and educator.
– Rewarding work that helps people improve their health, spirituality, and wellness.
Disadvantages to Becoming a Faith Community Nurse
– Irregular work hours that may include nights and weekends, along with long hours standing and walking.
– Potentially lower pay than that earned by other RNs.
– The absence of traditional nursing duties, such as administering medications and conducting physical assessments.
– The possibility of experiencing difficult and stressful situations with clients or patients and their family members, who may be scared, angry, or upset.
How to Become a Faith Community Nurse
1. Earn an associate degree in nursing (ADN) or a bachelor of science in nursing (BSN).
– While an ADN qualifies graduates to become RNs, many employers prefer to hire BSN-holders or master of science in nursing (MSN) graduates.
2. Pass the NCLEX-RN to receive RN licensure.
– Nursing program graduates study for and take the National Council Licensure Examination for RNs (NCLEX-RN). A passing score provides eligibility to apply for RN licensure.
3. Complete a faith community nursing course.
– Nurses seeking to focus on faith community nursing should enroll in a training course, such as foundations of faith in nursing, offered independently or as part of some BSN or MSN programs.
4. Consider a Faith Community Nursing Certification.
– The American Nurses Credentialing Center offers certification in faith community nursing, which may enhance an RN’s marketability and expertise as a parish nurse.
How Much Do Faith Community Nurses Make?
According to PayScale, parish nurses earn an average base salary of $61,680 annually, while faith community nurses make around $65,680. These figures are slightly below the median for all registered nurses (RNs), which is $73,300 according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).
Job Market for Faith Community Nurses
The job market for faith community nurses is expanding. The BLS projects a 7% increase in RN employment from 2019 to 2029, surpassing the average growth for all occupations. This demand for RNs is driven by the aging U.S. population. RNs with skills in patient education and those capable of providing home-based, outpatient, and residential care in faith communities are expected to see increased opportunities.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is faith-based nursing?
Faith-based or parish nursing, defined by the American Nurses Association, is a nursing specialty focused on intentional spiritual care. It aims to prevent or minimize illnesses and promote holistic healthcare within a faith-based community. Although relatively new, this specialization traces its roots to Christian healing ministries.
2. Can faith community nurses prescribe medicine?
Similar to other RNs, faith community nurses cannot prescribe medication. Advanced practice registered nurses at the MSN level, depending on state laws, may have prescription-writing privileges. While prescribing medication is typically not part of faith community nurses’ duties, they play roles as counselors and educators, advising clients on the importance of taking prescribed medications.
3. What does a parish do?
A parish is a jurisdictional designation where a local community organizes around a church and pastor of any Christian denomination. Parishes offer social events, service projects, community connections, and activities to congregation members, especially in rural areas.
4. What is the role of a faith community nurse?
The role of a faith community nurse combines nursing practice and health ministry within a parish or faith community. This includes various subroles such as advocate, educator, counselor, referral agent, and volunteer facilitator and coordinator. Faith community nurses help clients focus on their health from a faith-based perspective.
Resources for Faith Community Nurses
1. Westberg Institute for Faith Community Nursing
The Westberg Institute supports faith community nursing with an educational curriculum, knowledge-sharing platform, annual symposium, research network, publications, and events. Membership is not required to access resources, and the institute’s faith community nursing foundations course trains practitioners globally.
2. Health Ministries Association
The Christian-based HMA educates healthcare professionals in rural areas globally. It provides scholarships, health and spirituality workshops, networking resources and events, mentoring, and training. HMA offers membership to all healthcare practitioners, including a student membership for $10 a year.
3. Center for Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships
As part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the Partnership Center builds and supports faith-based and community alliances. It aims to serve communities, families, and individuals in need. The center publishes a newsletter, offers grants, hosts webinars, and provides toolkits and fact sheets on topics such as vaccination confidence, mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic, and the opioid epidemic.
Dont wait until the last minute.
Provide your requirements and let our native nursing writers deliver your assignments ASAP.