Faith Community Nursing

The Faith Community Nursing program offers a unique partnership between two healing entities; our hospitals and the faith community.

Faith Community Nursing Course

Faith Community Nursing (FCN) is the specialized practice of professional nursing that focuses of the intentional care of the spirit as well as the promotion of wholistic health and prevention or minimization of illness within the context of a faith community.

The FCN Foundations of Faith Community Nursing Curriculum is based on:

• The 2014 Revision by the International Parish Nurse Resource Center
• The Faith and Community Nursing: Scope and Standards of Practice (ANA/HMA, 2012)

Model for Healthy Living

Benefits of Faith Community Nursing

Congregational benefits include allowing the church to reaffirm its role in ministering to the whole person–body, mind, and spirit, enhancing the ability of the church to respond to the health needs of the congregation, thereby impacting the wellness of the faith community.

Responsibilities of a Faith Community Nurse may include:

• Answering questions about a diagnosis, medical treatment, medication, or procedure
• Coordinating a treatment plan given by a doctor
• Checking blood pressure
• Visiting homes, hospitals, or convalescent facilities as needed to check on the health status of members, or for bereavement
• Accompanying a member to their doctors appointment to be a “second set of ears”
• Staying with a member during surgery if family is not available
• Helping a member prepare for his/her next doctors appointment
• Providing referrals to community agencies
• Praying with members

Who is a Faith Community Nurse?

Recognized as a specialty by the American Nurses Association, a Faith Community Nurse is a spiritually mature, professional registered nurse, called and committed to the healing ministry of the the church. Completing a basic preparation course lays the necessary foundation for successful health ministry.

OSF Care-A-Van Program

OSF Care-A-Van is a mobile health center staffed by members of OSF HealthCare and its Faith Community Nursing program. Our Team is ready to assist individuals in the community with access to care, health education, physician visits, and even assist with tasks such as signing up for health coverage and exploring advanced care planning.