Parish Nursing: Stories of Service and Care

Parish nursing presents a new approach to healthcare as well as pastoral care, linking together the spiritual and medical communities. With today's over-burdened healthcare system and an aging population, the need for parish nursing is becoming crucial. The parish nurse could be a key link between the two systems, providing truly wholistic care. "Parish Nursing" describes the preparation needed to become a parish nurse and looks at several leaders in the parish nurse movement, presenting the steps needed to initiate a program and look at the future of parish nursing in the areas of clinical practice, education, and research. The appendix includes: parish nursing curricula, resources for parish nursing, sample surveys and assessment tools, and a sample healing service. Stories from parish nurses illustrate their work as health advocates and educators, counselors, and integrators of faith and health.