What is Faith Community Nursing?
Faith Community Nursing (here after FCN) is a ministry of nursing care in the local congregation. The definition of a FCN according to the Faith Community Nursing Scope and Standards of Practice is:
"...a specialized practice of professional nursing that focuses on the intentional care of the spirit as well as the promotion of whole-
This is a certificate course with 32 CEUs for nurses with an active RN license. Class size has been set at 12. For more information about this course and registration, download the Basic Course Brochure. Dates are included in the Brochure.
When Does the Class begin?
For up-
The current Class schedule
To be announced
Who teaches one to become a FCN?
A Faith Community Nurse Coordinator Manager is an FCN who oversees, educates, and supports practicing faith community nurses while organizing, planning, and sustaining the viability of this health ministry within a congregation or a healthcare organization.
This requires additional education, knowledge, skills, and gifts in the areas of community health nursing, not-
The Facilitators and Instructors.
Benjamin Colon is the Coordinator/Manager/Facilitator/Instructor
Jean Raymond is an Instructor/Facilitator
What is the ministry of the FCN
to the local congregation?
Our Goal is for every congregation to have their own FCN trained nurse.
FCN is a nursing practice specialty that focuses on the intentional care of the spirit, the promotion of an integrative model of health, and the prevention and minimization of illness within the context of a faith community.
FCN is an emerging practice for professional nurses that integrates faith and health while focusing on health promotion, health maintenance and illness prevention. It holds the spiritual dimension to be central to nursing, but also encompasses the physical, psychological and social dimensions of nursing. FCN Primary Health Ministry is practiced within a faith community and is based on the assessed needs of that group of people.
In practice, FCN may include:
Blood pressure screenings
Cholesterol screenings
Health fairs
Weight-
Seminars on health topics
Bereavement and grief support groups
Wellness information in weekly bulletins
Home visitation
One-
FCN does not involve "hands on" medical care, such as giving medications, dressing changes, or drawing blood.
What are the requirements to be a FCN?
The currently preferred minimum preparation for entry to FCN is:
Baccalaureate or higher degree in nursing including a focus in community or population care
Current experience as an RN using the nursing process
Knowledge of the community's healthcare assets and resources
Specialized knowledge of the faith community spiritual beliefs and practices
Specialized knowledge and skills to enable implementation of the most recent Faith Community Nursing Scope and Standards of Practice (currently the 3rd edition). (ANA & HMA, 2017, p. 25)
The Scope and Standards (2017) identifies Faith Community Nursing is unique, having various educational programs for entry, including accredited continuing education programs, baccalaureate or graduate nursing courses, or "related content in counseling, public health, and pastoral care" (ANA & HMA, 2017, p. 28). The original continuing education program was developed in 1996 and continues to be revised and offered as the Foundations FCN Curriculum.
What is Orcutt Christian Church’s
role in the FCN program?
Orcutt Christian Church owns, and is responsible for the curriculum. OCC will provide the training facility, which included the audio/visual equipment necessary. The training room is comfortable, and well lighted.
Faith Community Nursing Links