If you have met a Faith Community Nurse...

I’m often asked the question what exactly is a Faith Community Nurse (FCN) and what do they do? It’s easy to answer the first part: A Faith Community Nurse is a registered nurse who has completed specialized training with the curriculum developed by the International Parish Nurse Resource it. Faith Community Nurses are a recognized as a nursing sub specialty by the American Nurses Association.

The second part is more complex because each one’s practice is different.

Suzi is the FCN at St Barnabas United Methodist Church in Arlington. Some days she makes hospital visits. “I make hospital visits, mostly to the critically ill members. This has been very gratifying, as the families have seemed appreciative of the visit”. She also arranged for Consumer Credit Counseling to do a program at the church: Money $EN$E : Basic Financial Education for Money Matters classes were offered once a month for four weeks. Topics included: Money Matters: Setting Goals, Keeping Records, Saving; Credit Matters: Why Use It, Establishing Credit, Credit Reports; Identity Thief: Protecting Your Good Name, What to do if it Happens; Numbers You Show Know



The nurses at University Christian Church have regular office hours on Sunday and Wednesday. Members stop in and have their blood pressure checked, check their weight and often ask to have someone to listen to them and to pray with them.

Theses are only a few examples of what faith community nurses do in their congregations. Each Faith Community Nurse have input form their Pastor, needs assessment done by the congregation and with their health cabinet determines what their Faith Community Nursing Program will look like.

If you’ve seen one Faith Community Nurse you’ve seen one Faith Community Nurse. They are all unique and different.

- Paulette Golden, RN

Manager of Community Health