About Faith Community Nursing & Health Ministry

Faith community nursing, formerly known as parish nursing, is a specialty nursing practice and an international movement founded in 1984 through the pioneering efforts of the late Rev. Dr. Granger E. Westberg (1911-1999).

Rev. Dr. Westberg was a Lutheran minister, a professor of theology, a hospital chaplain, an educator, and an author. He based his life’s work on the belief that true healing involves the health of the whole person – body, mind, and spirit – in the context of the community.

Under his leadership, faith community nursing grew into an international movement. Today, thousands of faith community nurses and health ministers of diverse faith traditions from around the world work or volunteer in their faith communities.

Faith community nurses are licensed registered nurses who practice the art and science of nursing with health ministry. Faith community nurses are mindful of the relationship between faith, spirituality, and health, and promote wholistic (whole-person) health for the persons and communities they serve.

“Speak as your mind directs, and always act with more courage.”

Catherine McAuley, RSM, Founder of the Sisters of Mercy
In many communities, licensed practical nurses, physicians, social workers, clergy, and others serve their faith communities as health ministers.

Together, faith community nurses and health ministers are making a positive difference in peoples’ lives through:

  • Accessing resources
  • Advocacy
  • Health and wellness
  • Health education
  • Health promotion

Through their actions, faith community nurses and health ministers reaffirm the church’s role in ministering to the whole person – body, mind, and spirit – and become instruments of healing.

We invite faith communities, faith-based organizations, and care providers who are interested in learning more about faith community nursing and health ministry to contact us at 412-442-1951.

Click here for Pittsburgh Mercy Parish Nurse Program Fact Sheet.

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