Nursing Degrees Online

The GradDipTh(FCN) was accredited in 2000 in order to provide an accredited course in theology specifically tailored to the parish nurse role in the Lutheran Church of Australia and in order to meet the need for a course to provide an appropriate qualification for registered nurses from all Christian denominations who are working, or interested in working, within a faith community setting (eg congregations, parishes, church owned schools, hospitals, aged care facilities, etc).

The GradDipTh(FCN) is recognised by the Department of Lay Ministry of the Lutheran Church of Australia as the basic qualification for nurses seeking accreditation as Lutheran Parish Nurses working in Lutheran faith communities. The Australian Faith Community Nurses Association Incorporated (AFCNA) recognises the qualification as an appropriate level for nurses who are practising in a salaried Faith Community Nursing role. Individual Christian denominations have varied degrees of recognition for such a qualification, but in most denominations persons with a Graduate Diploma in Theology are recognised as qualified for salaried lay ministry positions.
Course outcomes

The Graduate Diploma of Theology in Faith Community Nursing enables registered nurses to:
develop skills to assess, plan, implement and evaluate nursing care of individuals and groups in the context of a faith community for the promotion and enhancement of whole person health from a Christian perspective,
in that they:
become familiar with the basics of Christian theology and the Christian tradition as they have been transmitted through the Christian Church;
develop the skill of doing theology and of interpreting and applying the Christian tradition within the context of a health and healing ministry in the faith community nurse role;
be aware of Christian theological perspectives relevant to health (eg, meaning of suffering, nature of healing, purpose of caring) that can direct interaction with clients in the context of faith community nursing;
be aware of the philosophies and principles of faith community nursing, and be able to develop a personal philosophy of nursing appropriate to the context of faith community nursing;
understand and apply principles of community development which utilise the community’s assets to build social capacity and promote the health of the community;
apply appropriately the principles of primary health care with due regard to the health continuum;
be aware of significant issues in contemporary society that influence health (eg economic constraints, social justice, bioethics, medical specialisation, the ageing population, managed care, domestic violence) and through offering nursing care that is cognisant and sensitive to such issues from a Christian perspective;
be appropriately accountable, including legally, ethically and professionally;
deliver care that demonstrates awareness of the worth of each individual and a commitment to the provision of multi-dimensional nursing care, including a focus on the spiritual dimension;
understand their vocation as faith community nurses in terms of service carried out in a climate of pastoral care and love whilst growing and maturing as individuals and as members of the faith community.

Course structure

The GradDipTh(FCN) consists of six units totalling 80 credit points. The course is structured as follows:
two 20 credit point professional core units:
NUR3001 Principles of Faith Community Nursing
NUR3002 Practice of Faith Community Nursing

four 10 credit-point units taken at the postgraduate level:
two core units:
BIB1003 The Bible Today
PAS1008 Pastoral People 1

and two elective units, taken at the postgraduate level, selected by students from the following:
THE1002 The Christian Faith
THE1012 Introduction to Lutheran Ethics
PAS1014 Introduction to Spirituality
PAS1002 Introduction to Pastoral Care and Counselling
PAS1004 Introduction to Clinical Pastoral Education 1
[Note: where off campus students cannot access an accredited course in CPE, the alternate unit PAS1035 Pastoral People at Work is available online only.]

Note: Units equivalent to the above 10 credit point units The Bible Today and The Christian Faith may be taken from another accredited theology course at another institution, thus enabling students from diverse Christian perspectives to study distinctly theological units from an institution of their choice.

Through options in assignments students are able to contextualise content that identifies and addresses unique issues relating to their own areas of interest.

The AFCNA competency standards for faith community nurses will be integrated into the nursing-orientated units, and additional denominational standards can be customised into the assignments for each of these units.

embrace the integration of faith and health as central to the parish nurse role, demonstrate knowledge, attitude, and skills to practice as a parish nurse.
value an inter-collegial peer system of support.
identify a network for continuing development and support.
commit continued spiritual formation to more effectively understand and carry out the parish nurse role.

The Basic Parish Nurse Ministry Preparation Program may be taken for university credit (NURS 300-2/3 SH) or as continuing education course (36 contact hours).

Basic Parish Nurse Manager/ Coordinator Course Objectives

Upon completion, the participants will be able to:
demonstrate knowledge, attitudes, and skills necessary to serve as a parish nurse coordinator.
value the mission of parish nursing.
demonstrate spiritual leadership.
demonstrate/collaborate with other professionals that contribute to the parish nurse practice
nurture ongoing spiritual formation for themselves and the parish nurses.

The Basic Parish Nurse Manager/Coordinator Program is offered as a continuing education course (22.6 contact hours).

Developed by the International Parish Nurse Resource Center of St. Louis (IPNRC)

Viterbo University School of Nursing, is an approved provider of continuing nursing education by the Wisconsin Nurses Association Continuing Education Approval Program Committee, an accredited approver by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation

A Parish Nurse is a…

HEALTH EDUCATOR
to identify the health needs of a Parish and plan educational health programs.
to utilize resources from the church community-at-large to present educational health programs.

INTEGRATOR OF FAITH & HEALTH
to promote an understanding of the relationship between faith, lifestyle, and health.

PERSONAL HEALTH COUNSELOR
to discuss health-related issues, to listen and support church members during times of concern.
to do home, hospital, and nursing home visits.

REFERRAL AGENT
to link the congregation to community resources and services.

HEALTH ADVOCATE
to assist the client in obtaining what they are entitled to from the health care system.

VOLUNTEER COORDINATOR
to develop and recruit volunteers

SUPPORT GROUPS DEVELOPER
to develop support groups to meet the needs of church members.

Parish Nursing is an organization whose headquarters are at Westminster College. This organization services registered nurses who provide holistic nursing care to faith community members across the life span, thereby facilitating optimal wellness and the promotion of a healing community.

Caring for the Mind, Body and Spirit…

Parish Nurses promote…

Harmony in relationships by encouraging trust, openness and sharing.

Engage individuals to overcome obstacles by instilling feelings of self worth, hope and a sense of purpose.

Act to meet needs with sensitivity and compassion.

Listen and pray.

Talk about the deeper issues of life related to health.

Help individuals understand that care of one’s health is part of the responsible stewardship of life.

Parish Nursing is a Congregational Health Team Ministry which seeks to recover the practice of caring for the sick and dying then way Jesus did. Specific tasks and concerns include the following:

HEALTH COUNSEL – Discuss concerns with church and community people – often as a means of outreach. Parish Nurses do not perform “hands on” nursing care.

EDUCATE – Promote understanding in church and community of the relationship between lifestyle, attitudes, faith and wellness.

ADCOVATE – Support sick people and families facing health systems complexities.

LIAISON – Share awareness of available government and community resources.

TEACH – Instruct people in the church and community, and train volunteers regarding health related issues through newsletters, talks, classes, and bulletin boards.

HEAL – Probably the most significant contribution: praying with sick and needy people.

Why have Parish Nurses when there are governmental agencies?

The most compelling reason to have Parish Nurses is that Christians are called to care for the sick and dying the way Jesus did. As Eugene Petersen expresses it in The Message,

“the Word [becomes] flesh and blood and [moves] into the neighborhood” (John 1:9). Communities are filled with hurting people who long for today’s Good Samaritan to touch them with expert tender loving care. Government programs may be good, but they will never be enough.

As the health care system becomes more technologized, the need for advocates increases for often individuals are too sick to muster the energy and time to deal with the system. Families may lack information about resources that are available. Parish Nurses in their role as liaisons provide a crucial “connecting link”.

A further reason to have Parish Nurses is that they are there to pray with the sick and their families in moments of greatest need. Health team members can lift sufferers into the presence of the One who is the true healer.