WHAT IS HEALTH? In 1948, the World Health Organization states that health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity. It does not address the spiritual aspect of man. What then is health from a Biblical view? Abigail Rian-Evans includes a spiritual dimension in "Redeeming Marketplace Medicine" (1999): Health is based on humankind as a unity; integrated wholeness, not separated physical and spiritual elements. "It orients towards health as wholeness and sickness as brokenness." Its primary goal is the health of others, not only our own. It broadens healing to include any activity that moves us towards wholeness.
WHAT ABOUT THE CHURCH? HOW CAN WE BE INVOLVED IN COMMUNITY HEALTH? Wholeness includes physical, mental, social, and spiritual well being, which is "Shalom." It extends God's Kingdom and the message of Christ's salvation for those who do not yet know it. It offers people choices (the choice to believe in God). It integrates words with works, proclamation with social action. In the past, monks formed hospitals. Florence Nightingale was a theologian as well as a nurse. In the UK, deaconesses and church workers were involved in healthcare until the state system took over.
70% of the British population call themselves Christian but only 6% attend church regularly. Churches no longer get involved with health except for hospital chaplaincies. Nurses working for the health service are not allowed to pray or to talk about faith. How can people access spiritual care when they need it most? Our health service is struggling to cope with all the demands made on it by an aging population.
PARISH NURSING PRINCIPLES
1. The spiritual dimension is central to the practice. It also encompasses the physical, psychological, and social dimensions of nursing practice. This was developed by the Philosophy work group, then refined and endorsed by the first Educational Colloquium, Mundelein, Illinois, June 1994.
2. The parish nurse balances knowledge with skill, the sciences with theology and humanities, service with worship, and nursing care functions with pastoral care functions. The historic roots of the role are intertwined with those of monks, nuns, deacons, deaconesses, church nurses, traditional healers, and the nursing profession itself.
3. The focus of practice is the faith community and its ministry. The parish nurse, in collaboration with the pastoral staff and congregational members, participates in the ongoing transformation of the faith community into a source of health and healing. Through partnership with other community health resources, parish nursing fosters new and creative responses to health concerns.
4. Parish nursing services are designed to build on and strengthen the capacities of individuals, families, and congregations to understand and care for one another in the light of their relationship to God, faith traditions, themselves, and the broader society. The practice holds that all persons are sacred and must be treated with respect and dignity. In response to this belief, the parish nurse assists and empowers individuals to become more active partners in the management of their personal health resources.
Parish Nursing:
* Whole person health care through the local church
* Led by a registered nurse
* Includes spiritual care
* Offered to people of all faiths and none
* Founded on Biblical principles, with particular reference to the health and healing ministry of Jesus Christ
Parish Nursing aims to encourage nurses to reclaim the spiritual dimension of health care. The health care systems treat the patient as a whole; churches restore the health and healing mission of the gospel. Whole person health care occurs through the local church.
MY INVOLVEMENT. I heard many testimonies of how people were helped spiritually during their illness. Just the simple visit and prayer with patients helps them heal better and come to a better relationship with God. Helen said in her presentation that we are God's hands and feet with Christians uniting together in caring for the poor and needy. We have one Parish Nurse in all of Ukraine. She is an American. The organization became official by the government 3 weeks ago. I will be helping her. She will inform me of needs and our church will volunteer our services. We will be helping with hospice care, elderly homes, orphanages and soup houses. The need is so great. Christians everywhere have a great opportunity to help our fellow men just as our Lord Jesus did.
