Introducing Faith Community Nursing
Bringing faith to community nursing and Nursing to the faith community
Are you interested in joining your Christian faith with nursing to change lives? Does your church need a health response to growing pastoral care needs?
The rise in mental health issues, stress, family break-down, early discharge from hospital, isolation and loneliness, chronic conditions and disabilities, and the requirements of an aging population, make Faith Community Nursing (FCN) a role that can add breadth and depth to the pastoral care of the church. It provides amazing outreach opportunities to a community in need. FCNs care for the whole person - body, mind and spirit, promoting health, healing, hope, peace, justice and faith for all.
Faith Community Nurses add a health dimension to pastoral care
A Faith Community Nurse brings
- nursing knowledge/skills combined with personal qualities and Christian faith to bring compassionate, knowledgeable and faith-filled support to people
- a deeper level of focused whole person support (physical, social, emotional and spiritual) to promote wellbeing
- support for people as they navigate health, aged and community care services so they locate the right resources at the right time
- broader scope to enhance pastoral care and enable helpful outreach
- the gift of time, presence, and attentive, careful listening
Introducing Faith Community Nursing course has 5 short sessions to increase your understanding of the FCN role. It covers some of the basic practicalities of the role, how to start it, and explains how AFCNA can help nurses become a Faith Community Nurse, and churches to establish a Faith Community Nursing ministry in their local community.
Session 1: Why use Faith Community Nurses in Pastoral Care Ministry
Session 2: What is Faith Community Nursing?
Session 3: Why have an FCN in your church?
Session 4:Practicalities of adding health to pastoral care
Session 5: What next?
Your Instructor
Anne is a registered nurse with a long background in emergency care, community health, district nursing, tertiary education, and health research (with a focus of health support of vulnerable populations). She holds a Master of Nursing (Research) and a Doctor of Philosophy. She also has qualifications in Chaplaincy and Pastoral Care and 15 years of experience developing and leading the health and pastoral care ministry at her church. Anne now works for Baptist Care SA supporting churches to develop thriving pastoral care, health, wellbeing and ageing services/ministries that are based on a biblical foundation and contemporary evidence-based health knowledge. She is the current chairperson of the Australian Faith Community Nurses Association (AFCNA). This work/life experience has led her to understand the most authentic outreach Christians have is to demonstrate that they ‘love God’ by ‘loving their neighbour’. Health and pastoral care ministries provide a helpful structure for churches to engage with their community via activities that promote health and wellbeing, prevent disease/injury/abuse, and provide compassionate care and empowering support.