Pennsylvania Nurse, Front Page 2017 Issue 3 | Page 16

PopulaƟ on Health in a Faith Community
by Marilyn D. Harris, MSN, RN, NEA-BC, FAAN
Population
Health
Population health is
the outcomes of a
group of individuals,
including the distribu-
tion of such outcomes
within the group.
These populations
are often geographic
regions, such as na-
tions or communities,
but they can also be
other groups, such
as employees, ethnic
groups, disabled per-
sons, or prisoners.
Kindig (2015)
Kindig and Stoddard (2003, p. 381)
Population Health in a Faith Community
Poster presentation:
PSNA Annual Conference
Camelback Resort
October 27, 2017
Issue 3 2017 Pennsylvania Nurse 14
Introduction
Population health aims to reach as many people as possible. A faith
community, which presents a venue where people gather, is a valuable
place to reach individuals. A congregational health ministry program in
a faith community encourages good health habits, nurtures and supports
members and friends, and emphasizes the relatedness of the body, mind,
and spirit to promote wholeness. According to the American Nurses As-
sociation (2017, p. 1), “Faith community nursing is a specialized practice
of professional nursing that focuses on the intentional care of the spirit
as well as the promotion of whole-person health and the prevention or
minimization of illness within the context of a faith community and the
wider community.” The goals are to encourage well-being, develop cre-
ative ways of addressing needs and identifying resources, and serve God
through continued support of the faith community family as it cares for
one another.
Faith community nursing is a broader term for parish nursing, which is
the intentional integration of the practice of nursing with the beliefs of
a religious community. A faith community nurse (FCN) is a registered
nurse (RN) specialist who encourages physical and spiritual health and
wholeness by developing and leading programs with faith communities.
According to the ANA (2017, p. 25):
The preferred minimum preparation for an RN or advanced practice RN
entering this specialty includes: a baccalaureate or higher degree in nursing
with academic preparation in community-focused or population -focused
care; current experience as an RN using the nursing process; knowledge of
the healthcare assets and resources of the community; specialized knowledge
of the spiritual beliefs and practices of the faith community; and specialized
knowledge and skills to enable implementation of faith community nursing.
Many FCNs are nonpaid professionals. They practice within their state’s
nurse practice act, the ANA’s Faith Community Nursing: Scope and Stan-
dards of Practice (2017), the faith community’s approved policies and
procedures, and position descriptions for volunteers. Policies delineate
the roles of the FCNs in and for the faith community. Confi dentiality is a
priority unless given permission to share.