The Role of the Faith Community Nurse (FCN)

Faith community nursing is of high importance for the physical and mental health of a community of faith. The daughter of the 86-year-old apparently “burned out” due to the high workload and continuous stress. Although she is a nurse, it cannot be easy to remain physically and mentally charged for too long. The pastor naturally called the faith community nurse (FCN) to assist the family. The latter naturally provides a wide range of various community services, including counseling, advocacy, referrals, health screenings, education, and deals with spiritual issues (Preston, 2018). In this particular case, professional FCN may encourage, organize, coordinate, and educate community members to become volunteers. Their voluntary services and the FCN’s assistance would vacate the daughter for some time needed to relax and regain strength.

Moreover, FCN can become a role model (care manager) providing care by himself/herself to the community members limiting possible complications. It has the potential to encourage others to offer their free help and assistance. Respite services may also be organized and provided to the “burned out” caregiver of the 86-year-old parishioner. The nurse is also expected to collaborate with other communities, creating an interdepended system that fosters health promotion. With referrals and resourcing, the FCN plays intermediary roles between the faith community and the patient affecting local health services access (Preston, 2018). He/she coordinates and manages the community’s care for the patients in need.

What is more, the FCN is responsible for group learning facilitation and health education. By educating community members, he/she may engage them to provide support to the man and his exhausted daughter. Another tool the nurse possesses is advocacy, which is about delivering perspectives and points of view of others to the whole community (Preston, 2018). There are many ways to request and advocate community support, including prayers with clients and their close ones. In general, the FCN as a community member and leader, has the power and specific leverages to influence the community and encourage voluntary engagement.

Reference

Preston, P. (2018). Faith community nursing in community/public health education: A positive student nursing experience. International Journal of Faith Community Nursing, 4(2), 8-12.