Topic > Parish Nursing: Historical Roots and Modern Recognition

For example, the health levels of elderly church parishioners may improve because parish nurses improve positive health practices, aid in the prevention of injury and illness, and assist parishioners in distress (Swinney, Anson-Wonkka, Maki, & Corneau, 2001). The two models of parish nursing involve the institutional model and the congregational model (Stanhope & Lancaster, 2014). Under the congregational model, the nurse is responsible both to the members of the parish and to its governing body, while under the institutional model, the parish nurse contracts and collaborates with medical centers, hospitals, educational institutions or facilities long-term care ( Stanhope and Lancaster, 2014 ). However, with the incorporation of the term faith-based nursing by the HMA and ANA, my plan is to develop a faith-based community nursing model of care. The faith community nurse model of care involves integrating the faith community nurse between the church and the surrounding community to promote health and well-being through health education and disease self-management, using the acronym FAITH. F: Religious community nursing and faith-based nursing; A: Awareness; I: Integration (Church and community); T: Teaching and educating; and H: Healthcare