Health Ministry Nursing

The goal of the Genesis Health System is “to provide compassionate, quality health services to all those in need.”  To this end, the Health Ministry Nurse Program promotes health and wellness of body, mind and spirit through a network of faith communities. 

Services offered are compassionate, imaginative and responsive to today’s changing healthcare environment. The health ministry nurse does not provide hands on care. Instead, the nurse develops programs for wellness and disease prevention, visits hospitalized and homebound members, coordinates volunteers, and connects church members with community resources and services. The health ministry nurse is in a unique position to promote health and healing and accomplishes this through a partnership with Genesis.

In 2001, Genesis’ Visiting Nurse Association launched its Health Ministry Nurse Program to provide spiritually focused nursing care within the context of the values, beliefs, and practices of area churches, synagogues and mosques. The partnership provides another avenue for community outreach and it connects members of the faith community to a wide range of services. The faith community directs the activities of the health ministry nurse and determines if it is a paid or volunteer position.  Genesis provides valuable resources to the health ministry nurse through networking and professional development. 

The Parish Nurse Basic Preparation Course is offered annually, beginning in February with registration in January.  The dates in 2008 are Sept. 12 and 13, 26 and 27, and Oct 11. The purpose of the course is to prepare a registered nurse to develop or participate in a program of health ministry within a faith community.  The participant will embrace the integration of faith and health. 

Genesis is dedicated to promoting the Health Ministry Program throughout area faith communities. All denominations are welcomed and encouraged to participate in the program.  Genesis will help launch new programs by subsidizing the salary of the health ministry nurse.  Consider the benefits of a health ministry program in your faith community. Programs can be initiated by leaders and members of the faith community, nurses and other health care providers. 

Contact Cinda Hathaway at 563-421-5065 for more information.