What is Faith Community Nursing and Health Ministry?

Wholistic health is a state of optimal physical, mental, emotional, social, and spiritual well-being, not merely the absence of illness or infirmity. A health ministry is the promotion of wholistic health and healing as part of the mission and ministry of a faith community to its congregation and to the community it serves.

Faith community nursing is a growing professional nursing specialty recognized by the American Nursing Association (ANA) and a practice that is embraced by many religions and Christian denominations and inclusive of all faith traditions. While anyone can become a health minister, a faith community nurse (also known as a parish nurse) is a registered nurse (RN) with specialized training supporting quality standards for congregational care and holds intentional care of the spirit as central to its practice.

As a nursing specialty, there are specific qualifications for those entering faith community nursing. Foundations of Faith Community Nursing courses are offered in a variety of formats, including weekly classes, on-line courses, retreat settings, and combinations of independent study and class work. Some offer continuing nursing education contact hours and others are taught for university credit at both the BSN and MSN levels.

A health minister can be a health care professional or any lay member of your congregation that has an interest in health promotion and care. There is no requirement for a health minister to have a background in health care or ministry and can work together with a faith community nurse or independently. You need only a heart for health promotion and service! Numerous health minister certification courses exist to provide training to support whole-person health and faith within your congregation.