Foundations of Faith Community Nursing
Faith Community Nurses (FCNs) provide intentional care to the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual needs of individuals and communities. This course utilizes the 2019 Foundations of Faith Community Nursing curriculum to help nurses of any faith or spiritual community to provide information to promote wellness, healing, health promotion, and disease prevention and lifestyle management.
As a nursing specialty, there are specific qualifications needed for those entering faith community nursing. The person must be a registered nurse with an unencumbered, current license in the state where he/she will practice, or a student in a baccalaureate nursing education program. At least 2 years of experience where health assessment and problem-solving skills have been developed is preferred.
The specialty of Faith Community Nursing is a ministry that allows the nurse to combine their professional practice with their spiritual insights.
Please note, we are in the process of updating the Foundations course curriculum to the updated standards. Please contact us for details.
Important Course Information
We are excited to now present the Foundations of Faith Community Nursing as a hybrid course, with both online self-study modules and live instruction. You are required to complete the self-study modules prior to attending the in-person modules. Please read the information below thoroughly so you can plan your class participation.
The specialty designation of “Faith Community Nurse” is available only after completion of all the self-study and in-person modules.
Curriculum
The full curriculum offers 40 contact hours to prepare FCNs to serve in this specialized ministry. The FCN training:
- focuses on core concepts of spiritual growth, professionalism, health and wholeness, and community.
- encourages individual spiritual growth
- includes various ways of thinking (and knowing), such as the application of the nursing process of assessment, planning, implementation, and evaluation. A theological perspective is also emphasized.
- develops the nurse for a leadership role in collaborative health ministry.
- supplies the content to develop and sustain a faith community nursing practice.
- fosters inter-professional collaboration.
Self-study Modules
The online self-study modules are hosted by the Adventist Learning Community. The 13 modules must be completed prior to attending the in-person class (see below). Contact hours for nurses will be provided for completion of each of the 13 modules. Click the “Enroll Now” button for full details. There is no cost to these modules, however you must purchase the textbooks noted below.
Live Instruction
Dates: Pending
Format: TBA
Location: TBA
The in-person modules are scheduled in advance and may be held at a local venue or via Zoom. These 8 modules are completed following the self-study modules (see above). Contact hours for nurses will be provided upon successful completion of the 8 modules. There is a cost for attendance and materials. Click the “Learn More” button for full details.
During the Commissioning Service, you will receive your completion certificate for the Faith Community Nurse specialty designation. Attendance and full participation at all sessions are required in order to qualify.
Course Material
This Foundations of Faith Community Nursing course is based on the curriculum developed through the Westberg Institute for Faith Community Nursing which is owned by the Spiritual Care Association of New York, NY.
The following are required and links are provided for you to purchase.
Available on Amazon
Contact Hours
Adventist HealthCare is accredited as a provider of nursing continuing professional development by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation.
This activity has been awarded 40 Contact Hours. In order to obtain contact hours, you must: attend the entire program and complete a course evaluation. This activity is jointly provided by Adventist HealthCare and Seventh-day Adventist Church North American Division.
This activity has no commercial support. None of the planners for this educational activity have relevant financial relationships to disclose with ineligible companies whose primary business is producing, marketing, selling, reselling, or distributing healthcare products used by or on patients.
Contact hours and a certificate of completion are awarded commensurate with participation and completion of final evaluation. The nurse must fulfill the following:
- Current RN license in the intended state of service
- Complete application and forms, as requested
- Basic Computer skills
- Basic ability to utilize Zoom and interact with an online platform
- Must be on camera and participate in all classes with timely completion of all pre and post course work, including evaluation quizzes to receive Contact Hours
Invite Others
Please share these documents with other nurses to invite them to join this course.
The Foundations of Faith Community Nursing course was developed by the Westberg Institute to prepare eligible nurses for the FCN specialty. The intense training can also be used by nurses to strengthen their ministry in a faith setting. Individuals who complete a course offered through the AAFCN, and meet eligibility criteria, will receive a complimentary 1-year membership in AAFCN.