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Parish Nursing
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Parish nursing is a form of ministry which links professional primary health
care with Christian mission. It is undertaken by registered nurses with current
registration who work within a faith community integrating spiritual care as an
essential aspect of the holistic care of individuals and families.
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New Zealand Faith Community Nurses Association Presents Conference 2010 Managing Life’s Transitions in a Faith Community ‘Lost in Transition’ Kia Kaha! “Be strong and Courageous … for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go” Joshua 1:9 3-4th September Salvation Army Central City Wellington This conference will provide an opportunity to: • Expand and share your knowledge of supporting others through both difficult and joyous transitions of life. • Learn more about the ministry of Faith Community Nursing. • Network and fellowship with other Christian nurses. • Take time out with God for reflection and worship. Supported by the Anglican Church of Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia Application Form available for hardship grant for first time registrations to conference For more information and registrations contact New Zealand Faith Community Nurses Association P.O. Box 64, Kaiapoi Email: admin.faithnursing@xtra.co.nz Website: www.faithnursing.co.nz |
History of Parish Nursing in Nelson Diocese and NZ |
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Following a conversation at a barbeque between a newly qualified nurse, Elaine
Tyrrell and the Bishop of Nelson, Rt Revd Derek Eaton, the call to develop
parish nursing in Nelson was first realised.
A year later in 1999, with support from the Diocese, Nelson Cathedral and the
Anglican Care Charitable Trust a pilot scheme led to the promotion of the
ministry throughout the Diocese. In 2000, Elaine joined two other New Zealand
nurses to train in Adelaide at a course run by the Australian Faith Community
Nurses’ Association. This was the start of many international links with parish
nurses throughout the world.
2003 saw the acceptance of parish nursing as a new
form of lay ministry by the Anglican Church of Aotearoa, New Zealand and the
Pacific at General Synod. Nelson played host to a training conference for
interested nurses and ministers and NZFCNA (New Zealand Association of Faith
Community Nurses) was birthed with the establishment of an ecumenical Board.
Nurses, clergy and lay people caught the vision and enquiries continued to be
received throughout New Zealand until today over thirty parish nurses are
recognised by Nursing Council working in voluntary and paid positions. One
visitor from England seeing a pamphlet took the concept back to the UK and
parish nursing subsequently developed there. |
Nelson Conference 2003 |
Enquiries are received from many countries and NZFCNA has hosted leading
nurse educators and parish from Canada, USA, Australia, England and Wales. One
of New Zealand’s longest serving parish nurses, Valerie Sirett, attending the
Westberg Symposium in 2006 was invited to speak to the hundreds of parish nurses
assembled and shared the news that her minister, Dean Charles Tyrrell had been
awarded the QSO in the Queens Birthday Honours that year citing the introduction
of parish nursing as a key item. |
In January 2010, Nelson hosted a group of nursing students and their nursing
professors from Linfield University, Portland, Oregon who came to find out about
parish nursing in New Zealand. It is exciting to see that a healing ministry
founded in the USA by the Revd Granger Westberg has spread throughout the world
linking Christians of many denominations and countries.
The Goal of Parish Nursing (Faith Community Nursing) defined by Dr Anne
van Loon (1999) The goal of all health ministry is the transformation of
individuals and communities regarding conceptualisation of health and healing,
empowering people to act in ways that enable them to transition successfully
through life’s changing conditions to maintain and improve their well-being.
This transformative process is a dynamic life-long journey that enables us to
grow closer to Jesus Christ thus locating our wholeness in and through God. |
Valerie Sirett at the Westberg Symposium, St Louis, 2006 |
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Thus all functions of the FCN should nurture spiritual growth and clarify the
relationships between faith and health. The cultural and religious group within
which the FCN is working will determine the mission of each FCN. The aim of all
education, counselling, advocacy, resource and referral, and care management is
to help people to integrate the spiritual aspect of life in their current
circumstance so they may find health, healing and well-being of body, mind and
spirit. All health care is aimed at facilitating the physical, mental, social
and spiritual integrity of people and communities as they experience life’s
transitions. |
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What is Parish Nursing? Parish nursing is the original name given to this
ministry which commenced in Illinois in 1984 – the development of a vision by
Granger Westberg. Check out www.parishnurses.org for more information. It is
also known as faith community nursing especially in churches where the term
parish is unfamiliar. Faith Community Nurses aim to promote individual and
community health and well-being through education, counselling, pastoral
support, information and referral, and care management services. They seek to
integrate body, mind and spirit, and nurture the growth toward wholeness in and
through Jesus Christ the source of healing. |
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More information |
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www.faithnursing.co.nz
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Contact, Elaine Tyrrell, Nelson Diocesan Parish Nurse Advisor |
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etyrrell@xtra.co.nz or 021 039 6949 |
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Resources available |
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NZFCNZ Information Manual
NZFCNZ Distance Training Modules
Quarterly Newsletters
Annual conferences
Networking nationally and internationally with other Christian nurses and health
professionals |
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Parish Nurses in Nelson Diocese past and present |
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Elaine Tyrrell worked at Nelson Cathedral from 1998-2003 and is currently
the National Advisor to NZFCNA. In 2009 in Christchurch, parish nurses from
throughout New Zealand and national leaders celebrated 10 years of parish
nursing in the Anglican church in New Zealand. |
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Marjorie Newcombe joined the ministry team at Holy Trinity, Greymouth and
helped to develop the National Standards for Faith Community Nurses. |
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Sheryn Carpenter-McClatchy joined Elaine to develop initial policies
within the Diocese whilst fulfilling the parish nurse role at St Barnabas,
Stoke. |
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Jane Wulff was commissioned to the role of Parish Nurse in November 2009
by Bishop Richard at Nelson Cathedral. She has been working as an elected Board
member of NZFCNA and as a regional coordinator for several years supporting
other Parish nurses |
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Valerie Sirett has worked both within in Parish Nurse team at Nelson
Cathedral and led it until 2009 when she received a certificate of recognition
of her service from NZFCNA. |
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Mary Pook developed the role at Holy Trinity, Picton in the early days of
exploring the ministry within the Diocese. |
Jane Wulff, newly commissioned |
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Valerie Sirett checking blood pressures |