Faith Community Nursing
Welcome to the resource location for Faith Community Nursing for the CentraCare System and the Diocese of Saint Cloud.
News
Integrators of faith and health. Ten women commissioned as new faith community nurses. Watch for 2019 classes being planned.
Congratulations to ten Registered Nurses who were commissioned as new faith community nurses at a ceremony Nov. 9, 2018 at Grace United Methodist Church in St. Cloud after completing the Foundations of Faith Community Nursing class.
Faith community nursing is a specialized area of professional nursing recognized by the American Nurses Association for RNs. These nursing professionals, who have taken on additional learning to be leaders and ministers in their faith communities, are known as integrators of faith and health. All participants received a scholarship for our second class this year from a PRIDE Grant from the CC Foundation. 16 RNs have completed the class this year.
Read more: Integrators of Faith and Health — Central Minnesota Catholic Magazine, November 2018
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The class members pictured are:
Back Row: Jennifer Michalson, Motley Free Methodist, Motley; Susan Newkirk, Motley Free Methodist, Motley; Angie Moscho, St. Boniface, Cold Spring; Katie Theisen, St. Cloud; Deb Haagenson, Hubbard United Methodist Church, Hubbard; Marnie Czech, Holy Trinity, Royalton
Front Row: Joyce Simones, Educator for class; Leslie Ender, Duluth; Bridget Huber, St. Marcus, Clear Lake; Janelle Maciej, St. Stanislaus, Bowlus; Amanda Noaeill, Immanuel Lutheran, Princeton; Carol Engelhart, Educator
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What is Faith Community Nursing?
Photo from the 2018 Blessing of Hands. Faith Community
Nurses in attendence include: Marjorie Henkemeyer, Penny
Weihrauch, Sandy Baert, Ellen Erickson, Julie Kouba,
Bev Arndt, Lora Lee, Kari Nelson, Kirstie Bingham,
Rosemary Weiser, Chris Jones, Donna Dearing,
Karen Reinholz, Pat Seavert, Annette Jesh,
Nancy Zaczkowski, Jan Johnson, Joyce Simones,
Betsy Clark, Bev Wiehoff and Betty Pasela.
Faith community nursing* is the specialized practice of professional nursing that focuses on the intentional care of the spirit as part of the process of promoting holistic health and preventing or minimizing illness in a faith community. It is a part of a broader outreach – health ministry. With parish nursing and a structured health ministry program, the parishioners find connectedness, encouragement, hope and love.
Faith community nursing is an independent practice of professional nursing and is defined by the Minnesota Nurse Practice Act. Faith community nursing focuses on health promotion within the parish as a whole, a family or an individual, based on standards of care and performance outlined by the American Nurses Association.
* Faith community nursing also is known as parish community nursing, or congregational nursing.
What do Faith Community Nurses (FCNs) do?
- FCNs assess the needs in their own church and some provide home visits for confidential listening, prayer, and referral to community health resources.
- FCNs go to hospitals and other facilities to provide confidential listening, presence and prayer while discussing health issues related to mind, body, and spirit.
- FCNs facilitate educational programs and provide materials for individuals or groups to promote a better understanding of the relationship of one’s lifestyle, attitudes and faith to wholeness.
The Faith Community Nurse Partnership
The St. Cloud Hospital, Diocese of Saint Cloud, Health Ministries of Central Minnesota, area churches, service agencies, and faith community nurses are working together to promote health and wellness in Central Minnesota. This partnership assists congregations in establishing and maintaining faith community nurse ministries and supporting all health ministries that promote spiritual, emotional and physical wellness for members of faith communities.
The Faith Community Nurse Partnership Provides:
- A committee which supports development of faith community nurse ministries in Central Minnesot
Photo from the 2017 Celebration of Blessing of Hands.
From left to right; Back row: Ellen Ellickson, Pat Seavert,
Kari Nelson. Middle row: Chris Jones, Annette Jesh, Betty
Pasela, Kay Sime. Front row: Jan Johnson, Bev Wiehoff,
Penny Weihrauch, Donna Deering.
- Opportunities for networking with other health resources and agencies.
- A unique relationship between healing communities – the hospital and faith communities.
- Introduction and orientation of the faith community nurse ministry to congregation leaders.
- Opportunities for continuing education for pastors, nurses and others concerned with health ministry in congregations.
- Human resources and education material.
- Regular meetings for faith community nurses involved in the Central Minnesota Faith Community Nurse Ministry.
- Brochures and media relations support
Group Meetings Information
Central Minnesota Parish Nurse Ministry Committee
All parish nurses are welcome. Speakers come every other month to share information on community resources and networking and sharing by the FCNs present is done monthly.
- President, Rosemary Weiser, FCN at St. Francis Xavier, Sartell, 320-259-5794
- Vice-President, Chris Jones, FCN at Riverside Evangelical Church, Sartell (member EPC, Evangelical Presbyterian Church), 320-267-0917
- Secretary/Treasurer, Karen Reinholz, FCN at St. Francis Xavier, Sartell, 320-260-6158
2018 Upcoming Meetings
We will be having most Faith Community Nurse meetings in 2018 at CentraCare Plaza for easier parking.
Central MN Parish Nurse Ministry Committee Monthly Meeting Dates, 2018, Second Wednesday of month, (except July, August, December) 9:30-11:30 a.m.
Download Updated 2018-2019 Meeting Schedule (PDF)
These meetings are intended to:
- Provide a source of encouragement and prayer support for people serving.
- Spur us on in discovering what God's Word has to say about this area of ministry.
- Generate ideas and prayer support for those who are developing new areas of service and commitment.
- Build awareness about related resources so that referrals can be made easily.
- Help us learn from each other's successes and challenges.
- Identify complimentary services or opportunities to collaborate.
- Help one another feel connected to others who share the passion, vision and responsibilities.
Documents Available for Download
2018-2019 Action Plans (PDF)
Alexandria Area Parish Nurse Group
Val Trumm & Kathy Fischer meet as needed. Others are welcome to join them.
I have come that you may have life and have it to the full. John 10:10.
