The Unique Ministry of the Parish Nurse

By Marilyn Fleming, MSN, RN
Parish Nurse

(I Cor.3:16-17) “Don’t we know that we are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit lives in us? Don’t destroy your temple, because it is sacred.”

(I Cor.6:19-20) “Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought with a price. Therefore, honor God with your body.”

Our Eternal God has created us as beings that are totally integrated as a physical body (flesh and blood), an intellectual mind (which is also flesh and blood), and a mysterious spirit (which searches for a relationship with Him and for the meaning of life). Every part of our being, every cell of our body has our mind and spirit within it.

(I Thess.5:23) “May the God who gives us peace make you holy in every way and keep your whole being – spirit, soul, and body—free from fault at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

It is the Parish Nurse (PN) who understands this concept, incorporates it into all of her (or his) work, and teaches people about the relationship of body-mind-spirit. The responsibility to strive for high level wellness in all areas of our lives—responsibility to God, to our families, to ourselves, to the work in the Kingdom, and to society—is the core around all that the Parish Nurse does in her ministry.

The Parish Nurse, a registered nurse, using education and experiences, aware of the roles and responsibilities of a parish nurse, functions as a Minister of Health. Through this background she is uniquely prepared for the important intersection of health and faith. This ministry is founded on a clear spiritual calling from God and is under girded by prayer. This is God’s work and the Parish Nurse functions as his delegate in his Kingdom on Earth.

Parish Nursing is a ministry of “presence,” the “coming along side” of someone who is in need. She helps the hurting person come into the presence of the living God. When the person is not cured she may walk along side the person who may be chronically ill or dying. She is often privileged to witness the healing brought about by disease and the growing into wholeness with himself, his family and with God. She helps the dying person and the family, understand grief and loss.

The tasks of the Parish Nurse are many and represent activities of ministry that complement the work of pastors. The following are of particular importance:

• Health educator:  The PN is a vital witness to the unity of body-mind-spirit and helps people understand the responsibility of the human being as the Temple of God. She teaches people about the great variety of issues related to high level health and wellness.
   
• Health counselor: The PN can help people with health related issues about which they may not feel free to talk to a pastor and about which he may have no knowledge. Counseling involves giving information but is often a personal encounter between the PN and the person and may deal with life-style issues as well as emotional and spiritual concerns that complicate health-care issues. She is available to help people sort out health related issues in this complex medical system which often difficult to navigate. She explains medical terminology, diagnosis, treatments, and prognosis in order for the person to be able to make informed decisions related to his care. She is able to access difficulties and make recommendations.
   
• Health advocate:  The PN helps a person to be heard and to be recognized as indivisible—fully integrated physical, emotional, intellectual, social and spiritual being. On occasion she steps forth in defense of the individual person’s desires and decisions to help the person be heard. She helps link the secular world of high technology and medical interventions with the sacred world of God and His healing touch.

The Health and Wholeness Prayer Services is an ultimate way to bring people into the presence of God Himself for His healing touch. It is the PN who helps people understand that health of the body is dependent upon and related to the health of the mind and spirit.

Other important roles:

• Coordinator of volunteers:  It is impossible for the PN to do all of the tasks that need to be done. At the same time, it is a blessing to others to have the opportunity to serve and bless people and accordingly bless the Lord. The PN recruits, teaches and organizes people to help one another through many volunteer activities. The PN coordinates the services of other registered nurses and professional people within the congregation who are happy to donate a limited amount of time to promote the health of people.
   
• Referral agent and liaison with the congregational and community resources: There are many resources within the church and the community which may be very helpful to those people with a particular need. The PN helps those people access those resources. Included within this is making connections between people to help each other.

There are many programs developed to carry out the needs of Health and Wellness. These programs such as Blood Pressure screening, transportation to church for the handicapped and to medical appointments, exercise programs, health teaching, Sunday school classes, and many others are a reflection of facilitating High-Level Wellness of Body-Mind-Spirit.

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