Parish
Nursing evolved during the 1980's from the vision of Granger
E. Westberg, a Lutheran minister and hospital chaplain, who recognized that
health involved more than illness care. History acknowledges that early
nurses were trained under the auspices of religious communities and were
instilled with the thought that care of the sick should encompass the whole
person. And, since one of the earliest acknowledged places for healing was
the church, bringing whole person care back into the congregational setting
seemed appropriate.
Florence Nightingale said that anyone could be called to be a nurse but concern for health must go beyond the physical symptoms and the patient environment. Trained nurses have been serving people with a spirit of caring, gentle touch, patient listening, and talking with them. The power of prayer has been seen by many as an important part of healing.
And so, the concept of a Parish Nurse within a community of Faith grew. Working within the church congregation, the Parish Nurse is a visible representative of the close tie between one's faith and one's health.
Since the Parish Nurse Preparation Program began in 1996 there are more than 75 Parish Nurses representing 11 denominations are prepared to minister in 45 faith communities in the Chattanooga, TN area.
