There are many resources and examples available for starting a Faith Community Nurse practice. Faith Community Nurse (FCN) practices will vary depending on where the FCN serves or is employed. Most FCNs are members of their faith-based organization, and are generally integral members of the church organization and administration. Most FCNs maintain a church office, with some having an examination room and basic assessment equipment with a cot or bed for emergencies. Board or council membership with active participation as a full member (voice and vote) of the governing body with an annual budget, responsibility for volunteer coordination, and filing of an annual plan and end-of-year report is recommended.

Many Parish Nurse/Faith Community Nurse practices were initially developed as unpaid professional programs based on a desire to offer health education and health promotion screening programs. FCN practice has expanded to a dynamic role based on professional guidelines and standards. It is important to identify the professional evidence upon which FCN practice is based and the outcomes demonstrating the impact of FCN practice to holistic health care.

As a registered nurse, the Faith Community Nurse is governed by the American Nurses Association Nursing Scope and Standards of Practice, which...

describes the services a qualified registered nurse is deemed competent to perform and permitted to undertake within the scope of their professional nursing license (ANA, n.d. https://www.nursingworld.org/practice-policy/scope-of-practice/). 

As well as the Code of Ethics for Nurses with Interpretive Statements. There is a viewable copy of the Nursing Code of Ethics available online at: https://www.nursingworld.org/practice-policy/nursing-excellence/ethics/code-of-ethics-for-nurses/ Additional information is available at the ANA Center for Ethics and Human Rights at https://www.nursingworld.org/practice-policy/nursing-excellence/ethics/

An additional required resource for the FCN is the Faith Community Nursing Scope and Standards of Practice, which is written by the American Nurses Association and the Health Ministries Association. The third edition is currently available. Standards are "authoritative statements of the duties that all registered nurses, regardless of role, population, or specialty, are expected to perform competently" (ANA, 2015, p.3). 

These resources will assist in guiding the FCN's role and their practice. Referencing these professional resources promotes an evidence-based practice and provides information and examples that may be important in your practice. The FCN standards as noted in the Faith Community Nursing Scope and Standards of Practice are:

Standard 1. Assessment

Standard 2. Diagnosis

Standard 3. Outcome Identification

Standard 4. Planning

Standard 5. Implementation

     Standard 5A. Coordination of Care

     Standard 5B. Health Teaching and Health Promotion

Standard 6. Evaluation

An optimal method of initiating a FCN practice is to align oneself with an experienced FCN colleague or mentor. Consider current FCNs in your geographic region, your faith, or within FCNI!

Disclaimer:
Please note that Faith Community Nurses International is a not for profit organization and all content is provided as a service without warranty of any kind, either express or implied, including but not limited to implied warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, and freedom from infringement. The user assumes the entire risk as to the accuracy and use of any content, including links to all external sites. Individual documents and/or pages may be printed, copied, and distributed subject to the following conditions:
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2. All copies must contain the copyright notice and any other notices provided therein.
3. Documents may not be distributed for profit.

American Nurses Association & Health Ministries Association, Inc. (2017)

​References

American Nurses Association. (n.d.). View the code of ethics for nurses. Retrieved February 25, 2023 from https://www.nursingworld.org/practice-policy/nursing-excellence/ethics/code-of-ethics-for-nurses/ 

American Nurses Association. (n.d.). Nursing scope of practice and standards: Scope of practice. Retrieved February 25, 2023 from https://www.nursingworld.org/practice-policy/scope-of-practice/

American Nurses Association & Health Ministries Association, Inc. (2017). Faith community nursing: Scope and standards of practice (3rd ed.). Silver Spring, MD: Nursebooks.org. Retrieved February 25, 2023 from https://www.nursingworld.org/nurses-books/faith-community-nursing-scope-and-standards-of-practice-3rd-edition/