WELCOME TO FAITH COMMUNITY NURSES INTERNATIONAL
(FCNI)


Education Committee
 

 The Education Committee is responsible for supporting FCNI by providing continuing nursing education to support faith community nurses to enhance the development and sustainability of faith community nursing practice.

 

FCNI Annual Virtual Conference – 2025

Practice drives Research . . . Research drives Practice

Saturday, October 18 from 10 am to 3:00 pm (CT)


Feedback from the Second Annual FCNI Conference in Fall 2024:

— “A very well curated conference.”

— “The conference was very well done. The topics were relevant and interesting.”

— “This was an excellent program/conference. The day went by quickly and the speakers were truly exceptional!”

— “Interesting and practice-relevant topics.”

— “The speakers really knew their topics well.”

— “Great organization and select of topics relevant to Faith community nurses.”

— “High quality conference! Thank you.”

— “Great conference speakers... perfect time from 10 am to 3 pm on a Saturday.”

— “It is an excellent annual meeting with valuable information to carry into the FCN arena.”

— “Outstanding conference!!!”

Registration available later in 2025

UPCOMING FCNI WEBINArS

The FCNI Education Committee invites you to

“Innovation in Health Screening and Meeting Community Needs”

Stephanie Young, Paula Staab Polk, Mary Lynne Knighten, and Eugenia Graves

Date: Thursday, January 30, 2025

Time: 7 pm ET, 6 pm CT, 5 pm MT, 4 pm PT on Zoom

  • Description of session: Four FCNs will share your experiences creating innovative screening, health education, health fairs, and free healthcare opportunities in diverse communities.

Learning outcomes: Upon completion of the activity, nurses will be able to:

  1. Identify unique partnerships to facilitate health promotion in their communities.
  2. Identify possible sources of funding for community health fairs.

  • Stephanie Young is a Faith Community Nurse at Pierpont Church of the Nazarene and Suncrest United Methodist Church, both in Morgantown, WV. This work is a part of faculty practice for the West Virginia University School of Nursing where she is a Clinical Assistant Professor. She has organized multiple community health fairs and was instrumental in developing an interdisciplinary partnership in the community. She is Chair of the FCNI Marketing, Membership, and Outreach Committee.

  • Paula Staab Polk has an extensive professional background in nursing, funeral service, event planning, and volunteering. She is a consultant, developing virtual programs for the homebound for the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. She is the Health Ministry Leader for St. Finbar Church, in Burbank. Paula is fund-raising committee Chair for FCNI.

  • Mary Lynne Knighten is a nurse leader with over 37 years of experience in many areas of nursing, including being credentialed as a Faith Community Nurse, with a post-masters certificate in Faith Community Nursing from Azusa Pacific University. She has been the Health Ministry Director at St. Dominic’s Catholic Church in Eagle Rock for 22 years and Adjunct Faculty at Azusa Pacific University. She serves as President of FCNI and is passionate about translating research and evidence to practice.

  • Eugenia Graves served as a volunteer Faith Community Nurse at First Baptist Church Huntsville, AL for almost 20 years and retired in 2019. During that time, she was a founder of the Community Free Dental Clinic and still serves as the nurse coordinator for the clinic as well as secretary for the board of directors.

Registration: CNE 1.0 ANCC contact hours $20 for FCNI members, $40 for non-members




FCNI Webinars for 2025 - Save the Date

Webinars (on Zoom)

  1. Topic: Innovation in Health Care Screening and Meeting Community Needs
    Presented By: Stephanie Young, Paula Staab Polk, Mary Lynne Knighten, Eugenia Graves
    Date & Time: Thu. Jan. 30 at 6 pm CT
  2. Topic: Music Therapy/Health Promotion
    Presented By: Beverly McLawyer
    Date & Time: Thu. Feb. 27 at 6 pm CT
  3. Topic: Meditation with Labyrinths
    Presented By: Melissa Powers
    Date & Time: Thu. Mar. 27 at 6 pm CT
  4. More Pending...


Past Webinars And Virtual Annual Conferences 

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AN EDUCATIONAL MEETING?

Click below for 2023 and past webinars

Now you can watch it on Vimeo Check our Educational Offerings page for the Details.

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RECENT FCNI WEBINARS

“Evidence-based Practice and the FCN Part I: Inspiring a Spirit of Inquiry to Solve Practice Problems” 

Presented by: Mary Lynne Knighten, DNP, RN, NEA-BC 
Date:  25/Jan/2024
Time: 6pm to 7pm Central Time on Zoom
Time-zone: (UTC-06:00) Central Time (US & Canada)

Dr. Knighten is the President of FCNI, a faculty member at Azuza Pacific University, and a board-certified nurse executive with 36 years of progressive management experience leading patient care operations, legal and regulatory compliance, and clinical programs including improving evidence-based practices, patient satisfaction, and quality outcomes for major medical centers and teaching hospitals. Mary Lynne is the Health Ministry Director at St. Dominic Catholic Church in Los Angeles, CA, the Faith Community Foundations Course Educator at Azusa Pacific University and has published widely about faith community nursing.

This is the first of two webinars designed to enable faith community nurses to use evidence-based practice (EBP) in their ministry. The focus will be on inspiring a sense of inquiry to identify practice and/or patient problems and addressing those problems with evidence to improve care. EBP competencies will be presented, along with skill development for the following: writing a searchable PICO question to drive the literature search for research that is ready for translation to practice (including patient/ population, intervention, comparison, and outcomes

Learning outcomes: 
1. Write a searchable PICO question.
2. Identify 2 EPB competencies for nurses.

Registration: CNE 1.0 ANCC :
Contact hours: $20 for Members;  $40 for Nonmembers 

ANCC contact hours are pending from Northeast Multistate Division Education Unit, an accredited approver by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation.


“LGBTQ+ and BIPOC Considerations for FCNs”

Presented by: Andrea West, PhD, RN (retired)
Date: 22/Feb/2024
Time: 6 pm to 7 pm Central Time on Zoom
Time-zone(UTC-06:00) Central Time (US & Canada)

Current issues abound around the LGBTQ+ and the BIPOC populations. In the past, these groups have not been given the appropriate care and respect necessary to meet their physical, mental, and spiritual needs. Faith community nurses have a unique opportunity to be at the forefront for identifying and providing health care to these individuals—care that includes physical, mental as well as spiritual components. The agencies and congregations where FCNs practice are many times the first line of contact for these individuals needing assistance, understanding, and acceptance.

Bio: After over 20 years working in nursing education, Dr. West served for 2 years as Director of Curriculum and Research at the International Parish Nurse Resource Center in St. Louis, MO. She participated in developing the Faith Community Nursing Association of Oklahoma, was active in the Rocky Mountain Parish Nurse Ministry organization in Colorado, and served on the teaching faculty for the Foundations in Faith Community Nursing curriculum in both in Oklahoma and Colorado. She is a founding member of Faith Community Nurses International and member and officer of the Lutheran Faith Community Nursing Association.

Learning outcomes:
1. Identify issues facing those in the LGBTQ+ and BIPOC community
2. Describe 2 strategies to use for meeting the physical, mental, and spiritual needs of the LGBTQ+ and BIPOC community.

“Evidence-based Practice, Part 2: Executing EBP Projects” 

Presented by: Mary Lynne Knighten, DNP, RN, NEA-BC 
Date:  07/March/2024
Time: 6pm to 7pm Central Time on Zoom
Time-zone: (UTC-06:00) Central Time (US & Canada)

                                      

This is the second of two webinars designed to enable faith community nurses to use evidence-based practice (EBP) in their ministry. The focus will be on using evidence to design and implement EBP projects in the faith community to solve practice problems and improve health outcomes. please come even if you did not attend the first pressentation.

Outcomes:  

1.    Differentiate between quality improvement, evidence-based practice, and research.
2.    Design an EBP project and implementation plan.

“Social Determinants of Health for FCN Practice”

Presented by: Cassandra Alexander, MAOM,BSN,RN and Naomi Myers, MA,RN
Date: Thursday, April 11, 2024
Time: 6pm to 7pm Central Time on Zoom


Nurses can benefit from understanding social justice when evaluating health disparities and inequities in their congregations and communities. Health disparities are driven by social and economic inequities and affect mortality, morbidity, life expectancy, health care expenditures, healthcare systems, and overall health status. Learning to assess and manage Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) is essential to address and oversee the health of a faith community.

Learning outcomes:

  1. Identify steps Faith Community Nursing (FCN’s) can take to improve health disparities.
  2. List 3 actionable items to remedy health disparities, personally and systemically. 
 Bios: Cassandra Alexander is a content expert in faith community health. She has 20+ years of experience as a faith community nurse leader and in non-profit management. She launched/managed several community outreach programs providing comprehensive services to indigent populations.

Naomi Myers is a content expert in behavioral health/health administration and an Associate pastor. She earned a Bachelor degree in psychology and counseling, a Masters in ministry and counseling, and serves as a coordinator of health ministry, a Faith Community Nurse, and a Bible class teacher. 

Registration: CNE 1.0 ANCC contact hour
      $20 for Members; $40 for Nonmembers 



Teen-Senior Connections: An Intergenerational Approach for Building Teen Resilience

Presented by: Marcia Davis, DNP, RN, CRNP-PC
Date: Thursday, May 2, 2024
Time: 6 pm to 7 pm Central Time on Zoom

Description: Faith Community Nurses face challenges in creating relationships among the generations. In the literature, resilience had been identified as a protective factor against the alarming rate of teen suicide in the US. This presentation describes a study to build teen resilience by using an intergenerational approach within a faith community. Outcomes reveal potential benefit for both young and old including other options for exploring intergenerational activities among a congregation.

Bio: Marcia Davis is a Certified Pediatric Nurse Practitioner in Primary Care. She received a Bachelor of Science degree and Master of Nursing degree from the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA), a Nurse Practitioner Certificate from California State University at Long Beach (CSULB), and her Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree from the Azusa Pacific University. She has over 45 years of experience with children in inpatient and outpatient settings, private clinics, and school settings, and has been an Assistant Professor for over 12 years at Loma Linda University and at Azusa Pacific University.

Learning outcomes:

  • Identify 2 benefits of using an intergenerational approach for building teen resilience.
  • Identify 2 challenges and benefits of supporting intergenerational activities between youth and older adults.

Registration:

CNE 1.0 ANCC contact hours

$20 for Members; $40 for Nonmembers

   


Jewish Traditions and Rituals: Death and Dying

Presented by: Sharon Goldfarb, DNP, RN, FNP-BC
Date: Thursday, June 13, 2024
Time: 6 pm to 7 pm Central Time on Zoom

Description: Participants will explore Jewish beliefs, the rich rituals and practices surrounding death within Jewish communities, ethical principles guiding end-of-life care, and insights for supporting Jewish individuals and families during times of bereavement. From the immediate post-death rituals to the enduring practices of mourning, FCNs will gain a nuanced understanding of Jewish perspectives on mortality and learn to navigate the terrain of death and grief within Jewish tradition.

Bio: Sharon Goldfarb, with over 35 years of dedicated service to vulnerable populations, is respected in the field of healthcare with addressing cultural and religious considerations in end-of-life care. Beginning as the clinical director of Harlem's first HIV clinic in 1993, she later extended her outreach to underserved groups, including those from diverse religious backgrounds. Her commitment to education and cultural sensitivity led her to Columbia University in addressing health disparities and promoting equity, particularly in end-of-life care practices. At UCSF School of Nursing, she continued her work by training future healthcare professionals to provide culturally sensitive care for individuals and families from diverse religious backgrounds during times of bereavement. Goldfarb is thought leader in addressing social determinants of health and health inequity, contributing to national initiatives, publications, presentations, and developing innovative tools tailored to promote cultural humility in healthcare delivery.

Learning outcomes:

  • Identify 3 key rituals, customs, and ethical considerations surrounding death and dying within Jewish tradition.
  • Describe 2 skills necessary to support end-of-life care decisions in accordance with Jewish ethical principles while fostering respectful and compassionate care.

Registration:

CNE 1.0 ANCC contact hours.

$20 for Members; $40 for Nonmembers

   



In This for the Long Haul: Providing Care to Long COVID Patients

Presented by: Mary Martin, MSN, BSN, RN, FCN
Date: Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024
Time: 6 pm to 7 pm Central Time on Zoom

Description: Participants will review the definition of Long-COVID Syndrome, including the various forms and symptoms that have been documented in this illness. The presentation will also address the effects the illness has had on patients, their families, and the community, including physical, psychosocial/emotional, spiritual and financial impacts. Treatment options will also be discussed, including traditional and complimentary alternative therapies.

Bio: Bio: Mary Martin is an Assistant Professor of Nursing at Anoka Ramsey Community College in Cambridge, Minnesota, and serves as the FCN at her church in rural Minnesota. Previous work experience includes mental health and geriatric nursing, acute care, home care nursing, being Director of Faith Community nursing at Cambria, and the director of an adult day center while caring for families during COVID-19. Mary is a member of Faith Community Nurses International (FCNI) and is currently serving as Vice-President, having previously served as the Practice Committee chair of FCNI. She is also a member of Sigma Theta Tau, Nurses Christian Fellowship, and serves on The Family Table Ukraine Board of Directors. She has presented nationally and internationally on the topics of faith community nursing, domestic violence, mental health, elder abuse, chronic illnesses, spiritual care, self-care, diabetes, depression and drug/alcohol addiction, and caring for families through Long-COVID.

Learning outcomes:

  • Identify five negative impacts that Long-Covid has had on patient health.
  • Develop three nursing interventions that can improve perceived quality of life in patients with Long-COVID.

Registration:

CNE 1.0 ANCC contact hours.

$20 for Members; $40 for Nonmembers

   

2023 FCNI Virtual Annual Conference


FCNI Annual Conference: Exploring Dimensions of Grief and Bereavement

  1. Ambiguous Loss: Unresolved Closure, Ambiguous Loss, and Irresolvable Grief by Kathy Schoonover-Shoffner

  2. Breakout Session 1: Pinwheel Model of Bereavement: A Process Model for Grief and Loss

  3. Breakout Session 2: Ministry of Accompaniment: A Compassionate Journey of Community

  4. Panel Session: Grief and Loss among Diverse Faith Traditions 

2023 Webinars

  1. Food Insecurity in Health Care Settings:  Screening and Policy Recommendations by Amanda Thurber
    Download PDF

  2. Nurses Leading Non-Profit Organizations in the 21st Century by Mary Lynne Knighten

    Download PDF

  3. FrontoTemporal Dementia (FTD): The Most Common Cause of Alzheimer’s before Age 60 by Yvette Dulohery 
    Download PDF

  4. Gray Matters:  Understanding Substance Use Disorders in Older Adults by Kay King 
    Download PDF

  5. Spiritual Practice and Self-care for FCNs by Esther Brown 
    Download PDF


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