A Faith Community Nurse (FCN), previously known as Parish Nurse, is a trained nurse who serves a church or congregation to improve the health of its members. They recognize that spiritual care is central to the practice of an FCN and, working with the pastoral team, facilitate wholistic health for the congregation.
Most FCNs are BSN prepared, have current experience in the nursing process, and have successfully completed the Foundations Course. Many are masters and doctoral prepared and have degrees in fields such as nursing, psychology, education, and theology. The FCN is a recognized nursing specialty by the American Nurses Association.
Faith Community Nurses have been called to be conduits of safety for others. We achieve this through education, mentoring, and personal support of pastors and congregants on their personal health journey. FCNs also serve in hospital and healthcare settings, offering community-based education and support.
To learn more about the Faith Community Nursing specialty, visit the Westberg Institute website.
