The Memorial Health Care System Faith Community/Parish Nurse Preparation Program offers education and instruction to religious leaders, congregations, and Registered Nurses about parish nursing and health ministry.

The program consists of three 8-hours days (8:30AM - 4:30PM) and three 3-hour evening sessions (4:30PM - 7:30PM). All sessions must be completed (for a total of 33 contact hours). The program culminates with the Celebration of Faith Community/Parish Nursing.  If you are interested or  know of anyone interested in the Faith Community/Parish Nurse Preparation Program, contact Connie Blake, Coordinator of Faith Community/Parish Nursing at 495-6163. 

The program combines factual information and theological  reflection on specific situations to prepare Registered Nurses to serve as Parish Nurses in their congregations and discover new understandings of whole-person care. 

NOTE: In the Chattanooga area, the majority of our Faith Community/Parish Nurses minister in volunteer roles within their faith community. Those in paid positions have been called by their faith community to do so -- they have not been placed in these positions through the Preparation Program.

Roles of the Parish Nurse include:

  • Health educator
  • Referral resource
  • Personal health counselor
  • Interpreter of the relationship between faith and health
  • Developer of support groups
  • Volunteer coordinator.

Topics discussed in the classes include (but are not limited to):

  • setting up the Faith Community/Parish Nurse Ministry within the congregation (documentation, supplies, budget) 
  • legal and ethical implications 
  • confidentiality 
  • access to community resources 
  • approaches to grief and bereavement
  • spiritual assessment and care of self
  • theological reflection.

Contact hours (33) are offered through an area University. 

Requirements for the program include:

  •  completion of written application (click here for the application in Adobe .PDF format) - September 2010 class.
  •  proof of valid, current RN License in the State where the ministry will be established;
  •  active participation in faith community to be served;
  •  interview with the coordinator prior to acceptance into the class
  •  tuition deposit due on the first day of class. 

** Adobe Reader needed to open .PDF files available as free download at  http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html

Fall 2010 class dates - class rescheduled

Dates for the Fall 2010 Faith Community Nurses class are:

Completed application due by September 9.

Tuition deposit due by September 16, 2010.

Classes: September 22, 29 and October 6 from 8:30AM to 4:30PM

and

October 12, 26 and November 9 from 4:30PM to 7:30PM

Commissioning on November 16 at 6:00PM

ALL SESSIONS (total 33 hours) must be completed to fulfill course and contact hour requirements.

Contact the Faith Community Coordinator - connie_blake@memorial.org or 423-495-6163 for additional information including the cost of the program.

       Updated 8/310

© 2001-2010  Constance Rotters Blake, MSN, BSN, RN, FCN  

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