Parish Nursing Program

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Promoting Wholeness in Christ—body, mind and spirit

…and he sent them to preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick. Luke 9:2

Parish Nursing is rapidly becoming one of the fastest growing specialties in nursing. The Parish Nurse does not offer hands on treatment but practices in 5 roles:

• Health Educator - offered on an individual (confidential) basis and through programs, display, articles and resource material.


• Personal Health Counselor - listens and supports during times of concern, visits homes, hospitals and nursing homes, performs blood pressure screenings and personal health assessments with concern placed on wholistic wellness: physical, psychological and spiritual.


• Referral Source - assists with utilizing services and resources in the community.


• Facilitator - supports and trains volunteers to respond to the needs of the community and congregation.


• Integrator of faith and health - participates with prayer and reading Scriptures acknowledging the effects of anxiety, doubt, fear, guilt and faith on health and healing.

The Northern Illinois Parish Nurse Network provides:

1. Christ-centered Spiritual support and nourishment for the parish nurse.


2. Basic information about parish nursing and how to initiate a parish nurse ministry.


3. A forum for sharing ideas and resources for practicing parish nurses.


4. The opportunity to nurture the total team ministry within the congregation.


5. An informal means for peer review and program evaluation.


6. Dialogue about issues and resources affecting parish nurses within the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod.


7. Opportunities to promote parish nursing within our congregations and within the Northern Illinois District.


8. Discussion groups for nurses enrolled in the Parish Nurse Distance Learning Program, Concordia Wisconsin, or other LCMS Parish Nurse Educational Programs.


9. Discussion groups for pastors and parish nurses wanting more information about Standards of Practice guidelines within the LC-MS.


10. Collaboration with other entities within the LC-MS and/or NID that serve a common interest.


11. Networking and Christian fellowship among persons interested in parish nursing.

Parish nurses within the LC-MS are encouraged to participate in a Christ-centered educational program that is consistent with the theology and practice of the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod.