Questions that we get asked.

What does a Parish Nurse do? 
A full job description is here.

Is Parish nursing only for Christians? 
The concept of parish nursing can be delivered through any Christian denomination, or even any other faith community, though other faith communities would probably call it something slightly different. 
Parish nursing is offered to people of all faiths and none, and although firmly rooted in a Christian understanding of health and wholeness, is offered unconditionally. 
As with Hospital chaplaincy, Parish nurses do not put pressure on people to change their religion or denomination…part of the training is to ensure that when alternative sources of spiritual help are needed or requested, appropriate referral is made. Clients will always know the church from which the nurse is operating and will always have the option to choose to be referred to someone from their own denomination or not to receive any further help from this source.

Do Parish Nurses keep professional standards? 
Yes. Like any practising nurse, Parish Nurses will be expected to comply with all professional standards for confidentiality, record-keeping, etc. and to keep up their professional personal experience profiles and registration. 

Who is overseeing this work in the UK?
The Council of Reference consists of both theologically and professionally trained advisors from all the main Christian denominations. A charitable company has been formed in order to expand the work and this has a Board of Trustees. Accountable to this board are seven regional coordinators who are also Parish Nurses, and a Curriculum planning group consisting of three nurse tutors, two of whom are also ordained ministers.

Where are the projects? 
The nurses are developing practices in a variety of social contexts, with Anglican, Salvationist, Methodist, Independent, Pentecostal and Baptist churches. Some are paid, but most are voluntary. They work anything from 4 hours a week to 40 hours a week. Some of them are supervised by N.H.S.Community Nurse managers, and all have both Professional and Spiritual mentors. 

The locations include : Cheshire; Nottingham; Northamptonshire, Cambridgeshire, Birmingham, Surrey, Kent, Suffolk; Risca and Abergavenny in Wales, and several projects in London, For an article on the Hyde pilot, go to www.chester.anglican.org.

Are there Parish Nurses anywhere else in the world?
Yes. 10,000 of them now in America, but also many in Canada, New Zealand, South Korea, Australia, South Africa, Germany, Finland, and most recently, Swaziland. 32 nurses there have been trained to work with H.I.V/A.I.D.s. affected families and the results have been considerable; Many victims who were not receiving treatment are now improving as they have been identified and sign-posted towards treatment. In 2004 a decision was taken to form a World Forum for Parish Nursing, and Parish Nursing ministries UK participates in that forum. 

See a recommended list of further reading

Do Parish Nurses share confidential Information?
The simple answer is a resounding 'No'. Sometimes though, it might be to bring a church prayer group into a situation. There are guidelines that should be followed:

Good Practice in Confidentiality
for church prayer groups and Services

Proverbs 11 verse 13:  “A gossip betrays a confidence but a trustworthy person keeps a secret”

Parish Nurses have developed these guidelines to safeguard and protect the privacy and identity of the individual, family group, congregation and the wider community when the church is engaging in prayer for them. 

Aim: To promote wholeness, trust and healing


1. Prayer requests should be anonymous unless the consent of the person/family being prayed for has been gained. 

2. If consent to share information has been given then the person receiving that consent should clarify 

· what information is permitted
· what is to be prayed for
· with whom it may be shared 
· when it may be shared 
· where it may be shared

3. Prayer will be offered with the information as given. 

Copyright Parish Nursing UK 2007