Parish nursing: a system approach. Suggestions for planning and implementing parish partnerships

The Parish Nurse Program at Chicago-based Resurrection Health Care Corporation (RHCC) sponsors partnerships between the corporation and parishes in the Chicago area to provide holistic, preventive healthcare services; access to appropriate resources; and witness to Jesus' healing mission. In RHCC's program, a parish nurse's role includes acting as a personal health counselor, discussing health concerns with parishioners and visiting them at home, in hospitals, and in nursing homes. The parish nurse also serves as a health educator, referral source for community resources, and facilitator for volunteer and support groups. The first step in introducing a parish nurse program is alerting staff within the organization and the surrounding community about the program. One way the parish nurse program director can do this is by developing a communications plan with the system's marketing and public relations staff. Members of a parish nurse program steering committee, the system's vice president for mission effectiveness, and professional peers should then work together to create supporting documents (e.g., job descriptions and pay grades) and an implementation plan. After the program basics are in place, partners can be sought and assessed. When a partnership is established, recruitment and orientation of the parish nurse begins. Once hired, the parish nurse should participate in the system's and the parish's orientation and continuing education sessions. A parish nurse with no previous experience as such should meet with an experienced parish nurse to get advice on interacting with parishioners and hospital and parish staff.