Parish / Faith Community Nurse

A Parish/Faith Community Nurse is a registered nurse who is a member of the parish and provides non-invasive holistic care to parishioners, working under the American Nursing Association’s Scope and Standards of Practice for Parish Nurses.

With the church organization as the base, Parish/FC Nurses promote wellness by holistically addressing the physical, emotional, social, and spiritual needs of each person. The Parish/FC Nurse is an educator, advocate, and counselor, coordinator of volunteers and referring agent and works in collaboration with the Pastor and other health care professionals.

Parish Nurses make home visits, bring Communion, provide health education, review medications, contact physicians, pray, advocate and listen with a caring presence. We also offer a prayer shawl ministry and bereavement support group.

Parish/Faith Community Nurses receive a specialized education. Foundations of Faith Community Nursing courses are offered at the Archdiocese of Boston Pastoral Center several times a year.