Parish Nursing is a unique, specialized area of nursing that promotes health within the values, beliefs and practices of a faith community. A parish nurse is a health professional who serves his or her congregation, often functioning as a health educator, health counselor, health advocate, and someone who helps people integrate health and faith. A parish nurse does not provide home health care services or perform invasive procedures.
Functions of a Parish Nurse
Health Educator: Serves as a resource to the congregation on current, accurate information on health and disease. Provides education through a variety of options, which include: health screenings, health fairs, workshops, newsletters, seminars, and support groups.
Health Counselor: Discusses health problems and makes home, hospital and nursing home visits as needed. Offers a supportive presence to individuals who are making choices in their lives.
Health Advocate and Referral Source: Acts as a liaison between the congregation, health care systems, and community resources and services.
Volunteer Facilitator: Recruits and coordinates volunteers and support groups to care for one another within the congregation.
Integrator of Faith and Health: Promotes an understanding of the relationship between values, beliefs, behaviors, and well-being.
Akron General's mission is to improve the health and lives of our patients and our community. Our Center for Parish Nursing underscores this commitment. Its goal is to provide support, networking, access to resources, education and consultation for parish nursing and health ministry programs at local congregations - all denominations - in our community.
Akron General's Center for Parish Nursing is coordinated by a registered professional nurse (RN) whose role is to assist local parish nurses or those with similar responsibilities within their congregations. Whether your congregation is organizing a health fair, planning a program, or helping an individual find appropriate resources following a hospital discharge, she is available to help. Our goal is to positively impact the health and lives of individuals by supporting activities that emphasize disease prevention and promote health and wellness within a faith community.
Resources Available for Congregations
- Akron General's Community Health Library, which provides free access to health materials and information searches
- Support groups in cancer, diabetes, heart, respiratory, psychiatry, grief and bereavement, stroke and women's health issues
- Health education and prevention programs
- A free community Speakers' Bureau on a variety of health and wellness topics
- Physician referral service
Benefits for Parish Nurses and Health Ministry Programs
- Support and consultation for parish nurse/health ministry programs
- Networking and support meetings for parish nurses/program coordinators
- Professional continuing education opportunities
- Health education and disease prevention information for use in bulletins or other congregational communication
- Partnering with a hospital ranked one of "America's Best Hospitals" by U.S. News & World Report
Contributions
The Center for Parish Nursing is supported by the Akron General Development Foundation through its Community Health Initiatives Fund, established to support projects that reach beyond the walls of Akron General Medical Center and improve the health status of our community. Contributions to the CHI Fund are welcome and encouraged, and can be sent to:
Akron General Development Foundation
400 Wabash Avenue
Akron, OH 44307
Contact Us
If you currently have a parish nurse or health ministry program or are interested in obtaining more information about parish nursing and how Akron General's Center for Parish Nursing can help you and your congregation, call 330-344-1442.
Akron General Center for Parish Nursing
Akron General Medical Center
400 Wabash Avenue
Akron, OH 44307
330-344-1442
