Guidelines
For
Parish Nurse Programs
(The following is adapted from material provided by the Catholic Diocese of Allentown. Contact and resource information was changed to make them relevant to parishes and individuals in the Catholic Diocese of Belleville, IL).
What is a PARISH NURSE?
The American Nurses Assn. “Scope and Standards of Parish Nursing Practice” defines a Parish Nurse as “a professional, registered nurse who serves as a member of t he ministry staff of a faith community to promote health as wholeness of the faith community, its family and individual members, and the community it serves through the independent practice of nursing as defined by the Nurse Practice Act in the jurisdiction in which her or she practices and the standards of practice set forth in the ‘Scope and Standards of Parish Nursing Practice’ document.”
A parish nurse should possess the following qualifications:
· Graduate of an accredited school or college of nursing
· Current licensure as a professional registered nurse (RN)
· Three or more years of nursing experience in the clinical setting
· Possession of a valid driver’s license
· Completion of a parish nurse preparation program, such as the Parish Nursing Program offered at Deaconess Hospital, St. Louis, MO.
THE ROLES OF THE PARISH NURSE
Health Counselor
Assists individuals and families understand and cope with health-related concerns. May visit with parishioners in their homes, in hospitals and long-term care facilities, or at established times in a parish office.
Health Educator
Provides and arranges presentations, programs and discussions on health-related topics in an effort to promote the understanding of the relationship between lifestyle, faith and health.
Referral Source
Facilitates the connection of parishioners with resources and support services in the parish and surrounding community.
Volunteer Coordinator
Coordinates volunteers and support groups within the parish.
Pastoral Partner
Works with and assists the pastor by assessing the health status of the parish community and responding as needed.
OPPORTUNITIES FOR PARISH NURSE PROGRAMS
· Home visitation
· Pre- and post- hospital preparation
· Nursing home and hospital visitation
· Expectant and new parent visits
Health Education Topics
· Prescription and over-the-counter drug information
· Abstinence education
· Mental health and depression
· Chemical dependency
· Death and dying issues
· Nutrition and meal planning
· Stress management
· Caring for the aged
· Pre-school hygiene
Coordinating Volunteer Services
· Care-givers support group
· Hosptial/nursing home visitation
· HIV/AIDS support group
· Bereavement support group
Arrange Health Monitoring and Screening
· Blood pressure screening
· Cholesterol screening
Community Health Resources and Referrals
· Health care services for uninsured
· Transition to nursing home
· Special needs resources
· Hospital/clinic information
· Hospice care options
WORKING WITH A PARISH NURSE COORDINATOR
(In the Diocese of Allentown the Catholic Hospitals each employ a Parish Nurse Coordinator.)
Functions of the Parish Nurse Coordinator include:
· Assisting parishes in the development of Parish Nurse Programs
· Offering educational programs and activities through their respective facilities
· Providing ;information, ;support, networking opportunities and continuing education to Parish Nurses
· Coordinating available community and hospital resources as a referral network
· Provide consultation and leadership services to Parish Nurses for evaluation and assessment of parish programs
IMPLEMENTING A PARISH NURSE PROGRAM
1. Assess your resources. Identify the financial and human resources available to be certain that the program will be able to function effectively.
2. Educate the parish. Parishioners should be aware that the Parish Nurse’s message is one of wellness and specifically holistic health, not hands-on care like giving insulin injections or changing dressings.
3. Establish a health cabinet/committee. Gather a core group to establish the purpose and goals of the program. Include professionals within the health care industry, if possible.
4. Choose a proven model. Evaluate and select from the following models, based on the needs and resources of the parish:
· Congregation based volunteer
· Congregation based employee
· Institution based volunteer
· Institution based employee
5. Develop and adequate funding source. Address all costs, even if the program is
Volunteer. Consider the cost of office supplies, mileage reimbursement, speaker’s fees, and informational materials.
INSURANCE AND LIABILITY ISSUE TO CONSIDER
Insurance Coverage
Insurance coverage is dependent upon the relationship of the parish nurse to the parish. If the parish contracts with an agency, hospital or healthcare service, the agency must provide proof of professional liability insurance covering the nurse. Additionally, the outside agency must name the parish and the Diocese of (Belleville) as an additional insured under the agency’s professional liability insurance.
If the parish directly employs the nurse or utilizes a volunteer parish nurse, then the diocesan insurance program automatically covers the parish and the parish nurse. This coverage only applies while the nurse is working or volunteering for the parish (not with the nurse is working for other organizations).
There is no coverage for nurses dispensing medication or making a medical diagnosis or for a physician participating in a parish’s health ministry.
Transportation
Most parish nurses and volunteers will use their personal automobiles to carry out their activities. As such, they MUST maintain automobile liability insurance in the amount determined by the Diocesan Insurance Office. Proof of this coverage must be on file at the parish.
ADDITIONAL LIABILITY ISSUES AND CONCERNS
Pre-Screening
Considering the nature of parish nursing and the range of risk involved, verification of credentials and background checks must be performed on parish nurses whether employed or a volunteer.
The background check must include employment and personal references, a criminal background check and a driver record check. References should be contacted by the pastor or administrator, while the criminal and driver record checks can be requested by contacting the diocesan office of the Chancellor for directions.
Failure to conduct a background and credential check will greatly increase the parish’s liability associated with the parish health ministry program. If the parish contracts with an outside agency or healthcare center for nursing services, they should verify that the agency performs these same checks.
General Guidelines for Parish Nurses
The most common allegation against a parish nurse would be that he or she overstepped the boundaries of their professional expertise. Adhering to the following guidelines will help reduce the risk associated with operating a Parish Nurse program.
· Parish Nurses must keep records on all parishioner-clients. The records are confidential and should be kept in a locked cabinet. Even though a parish Nurse may be reporting to the pastor or other administrator, the records are confidential unless otherwise released with the client’s written permission.
· A Parish Nurse must no provide a medical diagnosis. Appropriate procedures should be followed for referral to physicians and other healthcare providers as needed.
· A Parish Nurse must not dispense medication. This includes non-prescription or over-the-counter medication.
· All abuse involving minors or adults must be reported to the appropriate government agency.
All acts delegated within the scope of professional nursing to an LPN or less skilled assistant must be in compliance with state requirements.