A Typical Job Description For a Parish Nurse:

1. Health Educator
The Parish Nurse will find all sorts of ways of promoting health in the congregation and local community. E.g. organising health-care teaching with the parent/toddler group, exercise classes with the elderly, stress management courses with the business professionals, or participating in teaching on drugs, alcohol and sex education with the youth group. Such classes could be in church buildings or beyond. The Parish Nurse will also be concerned about environmental/safety issues and First aid facilities relating to the church and local community encouraging church members to take appropriate actions.

2. Personal Health Counsellor
The Parish Nurse will organise clinic sessions at the church building or beyond, when blood pressure checks, weight management, and personal health advice are freely available to everyone in the congregation/community who wishes to attend. In addition s/he will make supportive visits to people who are in particular need through family illness, bereavement, redundancy etc. She will also provide health care advice for colleagues in ministry and leadership within the church.

3. Referral Agent
Where necessary the Parish Nurse will make referrals to G.P.s, dieticians, physiotherapists, counsellors, social service departments and voluntary bodies etc. as appropriate. This will require the development of good local relationships with other health care professionals and wide knowledge of local voluntary organisations.

4. Trainer and Coordinator of Volunteers
When a family in the church or community is in need of extra practical care, the Parish Nurse will train and coordinate volunteers to help. Unlike many NHS nurses, the Parish Nurse is in communication with many people who want to volunteer but do not know how to get involved appropriately. The Parish Nurse will run First aid courses in order to equip people to provide appropriate care in emergencies.

5. Developer of Support Groups
The Parish nurse will identify needs for self-help support groups and develop these. E.g. stroke clubs, single parent groups, twins groups, bereavement care groups. The church building or some other suitable facility may be utilised for these, and both the spiritual and physical elements of health will feature in their programmes. 

6. Health Advocate
The Parish Nurse will accompany clients to hospital appointments if desired, and act as advocate for them in all their dealings with health institutions. .

7. Integrator of Faith and Health
Prayer and discussion of Spiritual Issues may form a part of the Parish Nurse’s interactions with clients so that wholeness of mind, body and spirit are the perceived aims of interventions. S/he may also offer communion and organise services with prayer for healing depending on the practice of the denomination with which s/he is working. The Parish Nurse will be recognised by the church as part of the ministry staff team, even if s/he is only working in a voluntary contract. If a client feels that they would prefer to see a parish nurse/minister from a different denomination or faith, appropriate referral is made. 

Accountability will be to the local church as employers, and a local support group should be developed to encourage the work. Spiritual mentoring may be provided through the church. But professional mentoring is also important and a local community nurse manager may be asked to provide this. In addition, Regional coordinators are available to support both churches and nurses, and to develop new projects. They will advise on policies, indemnity insurance, and record-keeping practices. In-service training programmes will be essential, and it is the intention of Parish Nursing Ministries UK to explore specialised and validated post-graduate modules . 

Copyright Parish Nursing UK 2007