Deborah L. Pattterson is a United Church of Christ minister and executive director of the International Parish Nurse Resource Center and Deaconess Parish Nurse Ministries in St. Louis, Missouri. In this stirring explanation of this ministry, she states: "Parish nursing fits the model of wellness and prevention in a way that touches lives across generational, cultural, and socioeconomic lines. It draws a healing circle around a congregation and extends that circle into the community, blowing open the doors of churches in renewing and life-affirming ways. Once a congregation fully grasps the implications for change, healing, and hope inherent in the parish nursing model, it is forever changed." Patterson traces the history of this ministry in the United States and estimates that there are now close to 10,000 parish nurses in America and growing numbers in other congregations around the world.
What roles can a parish nurse play in a congregation? She or he can be an integrator of faith and health, a health educator, a health counselor, a referral adviser, a health advocate, developer of support groups, and a volunteer coordinator. Patterson describes the duties of a health cabinet within the congregation and how the parish nurse can work with the pastor. She presents a summary of costs of a program and offers suggestions on making a health ministry accessible and visible through a health fair. The appendix includes other essential information, including a sample job description for the parish nurse.
