Computer Requirements
Windows 98/ME/2000/XP or Mac 9.x or 10.1
Netscape 4.76 and 6.2.1 or Internet Explorer 5.0 or higher, including 6.0
AOL 7.0
JavaScipt must be enabled

Background
Parish nursing is a recognized specialty practice that combines professional nursing and health ministry. Parish nursing emphasizes health and healing within a faith community. The practice of parish nursing focuses on a faith community. The parish nurse, in collaboration with the pastoral staff and congregants, participates in the ongoing transformation of the faith community into sources of health and healing. Through partnership with other community health resources, parish nursing fosters new and creative responses to health and wellness concerns. Parish nurses appreciate that all persons are sacred and must be treated with respect and dignity. The parish nurse serves the faith community, creates safe and sacred places for healing, and advocates with compassion, mercy, and dignity.

Course Goal
To challenge the nursing profession to reclaim spiritual dimensions of nursing care.
To challenge the health care system to provide whole person care.
To challenge the faith community to revitalize its healing mission.

Course Objectives
The participant will:

1. Embrace integrating faith and health as central to the Parish Nurse role.
2. Demonstrate knowledge, attitude and skills to practice as a beginning Parish nurse.
3. Value an inter-collegiate peer system of support.
4. Identify a network for continuing development and support.
5. Commit to continued spiritual formation to more effectively understand and carry out the Parish Nurse role.

Course Structure and Schedule
This is a non-credit course offered for 45 nursing contact hours. Cost is $402 per student. A certificate of course completion will be issued to the student.

Prerequisite(s)

• Be a licensed RN in the US, with two years professional experience.
• Complete the Application Form
• Obtain the Reference Form

NOTE: Application and Reference Forms are reviewed for spiritual maturity. If accepted, the student will be notified they can proceed to register.

Required Text: (Contact instructor about materials.)

• The Essential Parish Nurse: ABCs for Congregational Health Ministry. Deborah L. Patterson. The Program Press. Cleveland, OH. 2003.
• Faith Community Nursing. Scope and Standards of Practice. American Nurses Association. Health Ministries Association. Silver Spring, MD. 2005.
• Faith Community Nursing. Janet S. Hickman, EdD, RN. Lippincott, Williams and Wilkins. Philadelphia. 2006. ISBN 0-7817-5457-7

Recommended Reading:

"Healing Words for Healing People: Prayers and Meditations for Parish Nurses and Other Health Professionals" Deborah L. Patterson. 2005. The Pilgrim Press Cleveland.

Overview/Subject Matter

Topics to be Studied

• Introduction to History and Philosophy of Parish Nursing
  
• Introduction to Health, Healing and Wholeness in the Faith Community
  
• Ethics in Parish Nursing
  
• Legal Issues and Accountability in Parish Nursing
  
• Assessment: Individual, Family, Congregation
  
• Function of the Parish Nurse: Personal Health Counselor
  
• Function of the Parish Nurse: Integrator of Faith and Health (Spiritual Caregiver)
  
• Function of the Parish Nurse: Health Educator
  
• Function of the Parish Nurse: Health Advocate
  
• Function of the Parish Nurse: Referral Agent
  
• Function of the Parish Nurse: Coordinator of Volunteers
  
• Function of the Parish Nurse: Accessing and Developing Support Groups
  
• Getting Started
  
• Functioning Within a Ministerial Team
  
• Health Promotion and Wellness
  
• Prayer and Worship Leader
  
• Grief and Loss
  
• End of Life Transitions
  
• Family Violence
  
• Documentation
  
• Self-Care for Parish Nurses

Methods of Student Evaluation
This course is comprised of modules as well as a final project. Participants are expected to satisfactorily complete all assignments and participate in all discussion board topics, as well as contribute weekly reflective comments. No partial credit will be given. Each assignment and discussion board topic must be completed by the posting of the following week’s module. Completed assignments are to be emailed to the Parish Nurse Coordinator.

Registration

Register online through our secure server or fill out this form and fax or mail it to Extended Learning. Call 1-800-2Learn2, or email WVUEnrich@mail.wvu.edu if you have any questions. Visa, Mastercard, Discover accepted.