Deaconess Faith Community Nurse Ministries

Job Title:Faith Community Nurse/Parish Nurse

Supervised by: Executive Director for DPNMN

Job Classification: Exempt

Updated: December 2013

All duties and standards of this position will be performed according to the established policies, procedures and guidelines within the Deaconess Faith Community Nurse Ministries.

These examples of work are not all-encompassing or restrictive, and are expected to vary with changing needs and priorities. These duties for this title are defined and assigned by the Executive Director for DFCNM.

Statement of Purpose: The Faith Community Nurse/Parish Nurse is responsible for working in consultation with Executive Director of Deaconess Faith Community Nurse Ministries, in accordance with a covenantal agreement between Deaconess Faith Community Nurse Ministries and the church/faith-based agency. The Faith Community Nurse/ Parish Nurse plays a visible role in the life and activities of the congregation and community to which assigned, while actively participating in the mission interpretation and promotion of parish nursing.

Job Duties and Responsibilities:

The Faith Community Nurse/Parish Nurse uses common standards of practice outlined in the Faith Community Scope and Standards of Practice approved by the American Nurses Association and the Health Ministries Association.

  1. Uses the Nursing Process:
  1. Assessment:
  • Involves the health care consumer, family, groups, spiritual leader (clergy), other health care providers, and others when appropriate, in gathering needed data in a systematic and ongoing process with emphasis on spiritual beliefs and practices.
  • Uses evidence-based assessment techniques and instruments in collecting assessment data.
  • Documents assessment in confidential and secure manner.
  1. Nursing Diagnosis:
  • Derives diagnosis or issues based on holistic assessment made which identifies strengthsand actual or potential risks to health and spiritual well-being for health care consumer, families or groups.
  • Documents nursing diagnosis to determine outcomes and plan for health care consumer, family or group.
  1. Outcomes are identified:
  • Involves the health care consumer, spiritual leader(s) and health care providers in formulating expected outcomes when possible.
  • Defines the expected outcomes in terms of the health care consumer, health care consumer’s values, faith beliefs and practices, ethical considerations, family perspectives, cultural practices, environment or situation with such considerations as associated benefits, risks, and costs and current scientific evidence.
  • Modifies expected outcomes based on changes in the desires of the health care consumer, the status of the health care consumer or evaluation of the health care consumer and documents them as measurable goals.
  1. Planning in care:
  • Develops an individualized plan which includes strategies that address each of the identified diagnoses or issues for promotion and restoration of health, spiritual enhancement and prevention of illness, injury or disease.
  • Integrates current trends, research, and best practices affecting care.
  • Works with others to address the situation or issue and communicates the plan to others.
  • Support the integration of the resources of the faith community.
  1. Implementation of Care and Plan:
  • Collaborates, coordinates and advocates for health care consumer and support system to implement the plan in a safe and timely manner.
  • Collaborates with and empower health care consumers to enhance their spiritual well- being and healthy behaviors.
  • Documents implementation and coordination of care and any modifications
  • Utilizes evidence based interventions and treatments specific to the issue(s).
  • Fosters growth within the church and community to support care for others.
  1. Health teaching and Health promotion:
  • Facilitate and teaches educational programs and activities that strengthen the body-mind-spirit connection.
  • Evaluates and uses health promotion and health teaching methods appropriate to the situation, the faith community, and health care consumer’s spiritual beliefs and practices, developmental level, learning needs, readiness, ability to learn, language or communication preference and culture.
  1. Evaluates progress toward attaining goals:
  • Conducts a holistic, systematic, ongoing and criterion-based evaluation of the outcomes in relation to the structures and processes in the plan.
  • Documents and uses the results of the evaluation to make or recommend process or program changes in the faith community as appropriate.

In addition to the Nursing Process, the Faith Community Nurse/ Parish Nurse will do the following:

  1. Quality Assurance:
  • Uses creativity and innovation in faith community nursing practice to improve the overall physical, emotional and spiritual health in the faith community.
  • Participates in quality improvement activities for faith community nursing and in Network quality assurance programs including but not limited to providing monthly reports, audits and research reports/tools.
  1. Education:
  • Participates in ongoing educational activities related to spiritual care, professional nursing practices and related professional issues through the Network and other sources.
  • Demonstrates a commitment to life-long learning through self-reflection and inquiry to identify learning needs.
  1. Practice evaluation:
  • Reflects the application of knowledge of current practice standards, guidelines, statues, rules and regulations.
  • Obtains and listens to feedback given by others in faith community regarding practice and participates on the formal review process.
  1. Interacts with and contributes to the professional development of peers and colleagues:
  • Shares knowledge and skills with peers and colleagues in regular meetings with spiritual leader and Network meetings.
  • Contributes to a supportive, healthy, spirit filled work environment.
  • Participates with colleagues to directly or indirectly advance holistic health services.
  1. Integrates ethical provisions in all areas of practice:
  • Uses the Code of Ethics for Nurses with Interpretative Statements (ANA 1985) to guide practice.
  • Delivers care in a manner that preserves and protects health care consumer’s autonomy, dignity, rights and spiritual beliefs.
  • Maintains health care consumer’s confidentiality within religious, legal and regulatory parameters.
  • Serves as an advocate assisting health care consumers in developing skills for self-advocacy in support of their spiritual beliefs and practices.
  • Maintains professional boundaries.
  • Contributes to resolving ethical issues of health care consumers, colleagues or spiritual leaders and reports illegal, incompetent or impaired practices as a mandated reporter.
  1. Research:
  • Actively participates in research activities related to the Network
  1. Community Resource Utilization:
  • Evaluates factors such as safety, effectiveness, availability of other resources including but not limited to monetary (budget and grants) and people, cost and benefits, efficiencies, and impact on practice when making choices for plans of care or outcomes.
  • Assists health care consumer or family in identifying and securing appropriate and available resources to address health and spirituality needs.
  • Assists the health care consumer in becoming an informed consumer about the options, costs, risks, and benefits of various interventions.
  1. Leadership:
  • Displays ability to have clear vision, goals, plans and evaluation of plan within the faith community.
  • Teaches others how to be a part of the health team
  • Willingly accepts mistakes by self and others
  • Demonstrates energy, excitement, creativity and flexibility, and passion for quality, spirit filled work.
  • Inspire loyalty by valuing people as precious asset in the faith community
  • Serves in key roles in the faith community by serving and participating in its ongoing work and mission
  1. Environmental Health and Safety
  • Follows universal precautions.
  • Maintains a safe working environment

Job Requisites:

  1. Education and Training: Graduate of accredited nursing program, BSN preferred. Theological education and/or Clinical Pastoral Education desirable. Current active RN license required in the state of practice. Minimum of three (3) years of experience in nursing including but not limited to one or more of the following areas: parish nursing, public health, education, public schools, and/or home health. Current CPR, First Aid and Driver’s license with vehicle liability insurance. Has attended or be willing to attend a Faith Community Nurse Foundations course. Will be encouraged to have own personal professional liability insurance.
  2. Skills and abilities: Excellent communication skills and teaching techniques. Knowledge of current healthcare issues in health promotion as related to lifestyles. Knowledge of health services and resources. Knowledge of organizational dynamics of churches and faith based agencies. Excellent organizational skills. Participates in church and community activities which contribute to professional growth and to promotion of holistic health philosophy. Self-directed and able to work with minimal supervision.
  3. Physical Requirements and Working Conditions: Manual dexterity, coordination and skillful use of hands for working with required equipment. Ability to receive and express detailed information through oral communication, visual acuity and the ability to read and understand written direction. Ability to occasionally lift and transport items weighing up to twenty pounds.
  4. Machine and Equipment: Telephone, personal computer, motor vehicle for travel within community, copy and fax machine, audio-visual equipment.
  5. Blood borne pathogens category: Non-exposure.

Employment Acknowledgement: I have reviewed and I understand the job duties and expectations outlined in this job description. I agree to perform the work in a manner acceptable to my immediate supervisor and within the guidelines defined by Deaconess Faith Community Nurse Ministries. Also I understand that continued employment will depend on my demonstrated ability to perform the work as expected.

Employee:______Date:______