Career Profile: Parish Nurse

Nurse Anesthesiologist

See Available Parish Nurse Schools

Job Description:

Parish nurse professionals combine their medical knowledge with faith-based practices. They are registered nurses who are mainly tasked to provide physical care and spiritual encouragement to patients.

Basically, parish nursing is a form of specialized nursing practice that consider intentional healing of the spirit as an integral part of promoting holistic care to patients. Instead of just focusing on the illness, parish nurse professionals give emphasis on holistic wellness, health promotion, and disease prevention. Some of the important duties and responsibilities of parish nurse professionals include the following:

  • providing personal health counseling to patients as well as their families
  • educate faith community members regarding the importance of healthy living
  • supervise training for community volunteers
  • coordinate and organize health support groups within the community
  • make referrals to other healthcare specialists when necessary
  • offer counseling on various health-related issues
  • act as a church liaison and closely coordinate with community health centers

In general, parish nurse professionals assume the role of a health advocate, counselor, educator, and volunteer coordinator.

Work Environment:

Parish nurse professionals typically work in community centers, religious congregations, and churches. They spend most of their time promoting health, counseling, and advocating faith-based practices. Working as a parish nurse professional can be emotionally demanding but it is also extremely rewarding.

Furthermore, parish nurse professionals must have good observational, listening, and communication skills since they interact and counsel a variety of people on a regular basis.

Education and Training Requirements:

o qualify for a parish nurse program, it is important that aspirants earn either a 2-year associate degree or 4-year Bachelor's degree in nursing. They need to obtain an RN license to become eligible for the continuing studies program. After that, they have to enroll in parish nursing programs that are accredited by the International Parish Nurse Resource Center (IPNRC) to gain knowledge on faith-based practices. Pursuing a Master's degree in nursing will allow aspirants to increase their chances of landing lucrative job offers.

Salary Range:

Income range of parish nurse professionals vary greatly depending on the following factors:

  • community size
  • scope of work
  • years of experience
  • educational background
  • certifications

On the average, parish nurse professionals receive annual earnings of around $47,710 - $57,280. Meanwhile, those who have acquired advised parish training, and pursued higher educational degrees are earning more than $69, 850 per year.

Job Outlook:

Employment outlook for parish nurse professionals is very promising since more communities are now realizing the need of hiring trained medical professionals to address a broad spectrum of health-related issues in their congregation. That being said, it is projected that the demand for parish nurse professionals will slowly gain momentum in the coming years.

So, start a meaningful career as a certified parish nurse by browsing through our comprehensive list of accredited parish nurse schools!

View the featured schools in your state. Click a state below:

Online / Arizona / California / Colorado / Connecticut /Florida / Georgia / Hawaii / Iowa / Louisiana / Michigan / Missouri / Nebraska / New Jersey / New Mexico / Ohio / Oklahoma/Texas / Utah / Virginia
 Online
University of Phoenix Online RN to Bachelor of Science in Nursing, MS in Nursing, Master of Health Administration
Kaplan University BS in Nursing, Continuing Education in Legal Nurse Consulting, Forensic Nursing, Life Care Planning, and Case Management
Walden University Master of Science in Nursing
 Arizona Schools
University of Phoenix Phoenix - BS in Nursing (RN Required), MS in Nursing (RN Required), MS in Nursing/Family Nurse Practitioner
University of Phoenix Ft. Huachuca / Southern Arizona - BS in Nursing (RN Required), Licensed Practical Nurse to BSN, MS in Nursing (RN Required), MS in Nursing/Family Nurse Practitioner, Nursing Informatics Certificate, School Nurse Certificate
University of Phoenix Tucson / Southern Arizona - Licensed Practical Nurse to BSN, BS in Nursing (RN Required), MS in Nursing (RN Required)
 California Schools
Everest College Anaheim - Vocational Nursing
Career Networks Institute Costa Mesa - Vocational Nursing
Maric College Vista / North County , San Diego - Certificate: Vocational Nursing, Certificate: Nurse Assistant Training Program
University of Phoenix Fresno / Central Valley - BS in Nursing (RN Required), MS in Nursing (RN Required)
University of Phoenix Southern California - BS in Nursing (RN Required), MS in Nursing (RN Required), MS in Nursing/Family Nurse Practitioner
University of Phoenix Sacramento - BS in Nursing (RN Required), MS in Nursing (RN Required), MS in Nursing/Family Nurse Practitioner
University of Phoenix San Diego - BS in Nursing (RN Required), MS in Nursing (RN Required), MS in Nursing/MBA/Health Care Management
University of Phoenix San Francisco - BS in Nursing (RN Required), MS in Nursing (RN Required)
West Coast University Los Angeles - Associate: Nursing
 Colorado Schools
University of Phoenix Aurora - BS in Nursing (RN Required), MS in Nursing (RN Required)
University of Phoenix Colorado Springs * - Licensed Practical Nurse to BSN, BS in Nursing (RN Required), MS in Nursing (RN Required)
 Connecticut Schools
Lincoln Technical Institute Hamden , New Britain - Licensed Practical Nursing (LPN)
 Florida Schools
Angley College DeLand - Nursing Assistant
Keiser College Kendall , Lakeland , Melbourne , Sarasota , Tallahassee , West Palm Beach - Nursing
University of Phoenix Orlando - BS in Nursing (RN Required), MS in Nursing (RN Required)
University of Phoenix Jacksonville - BS in Nursing (RN Required), MS in Nursing (RN Required)
University of Phoenix Fort Lauderdale - BS in Nursing (RN Required), MS in Nursing (RN Required)
University of Phoenix Tampa - BS in Nursing (RN Required), MS in Nursing (RN Required)
Virginia College Pensacola - Practical Nursing (Diploma)
 Georgia Schools
University of Phoenix Atlanta - BS in Nursing (RN Required), MS in Nursing (RN Required
University of Phoenix Columbus * - MS in Nursing (RN Required)
 Hawaii Schools
University of Phoenix Honolulu - BS in Nursing (RN Required), MS in Nursing (RN Required)
 Iowa Schools
Hamilton College Cedar Falls , Cedar Rapids , Des Moines , Mason City - Practical Nursing
Kaplan University Davenport - Nursing
 Louisiana Schools
University of Phoenix Baton Rouge - BS in Nursing (RN Required), MS in Nursing (RN Required)
 Michigan Schools
Everest Institute Grand Rapids - Practical Nurse
University of Phoenix Detroit - BS in Nursing (RN Required), MS in Nursing (RN Required)
University of Phoenix Grand Rapids - BS in Nursing (RN Required), MS in Nursing (RN Required)
University of Phoenix Portage / West Michigan - BS in Nursing (RN Required), MS in Nursing (RN Required)
 Missouri Schools
Sanford-BrownCollege St. Charles - Diploma in Practical Nursing, Associate in Nursing
 Nebraska Schools
Hamilton College Lincoln , Omaha - Practical Nursing
 New Jersey Schools
CDM Institute Wayne - Nurses Aid
 New Mexico Schools
University of Phoenix Albuquerque - BS in Nursing (RN Required), MS in Nursing (RN Required)
 Ohio Schools
University of Phoenix Cleveland - BS in Nursing (RN Required), MS in Nursing (RN Required)
 Oklahoma Schools
University of Phoenix Oklahoma City - BS in Nursing (RN Required)
University of Phoenix Tulsa - BS in Nursing (RN Required)
 Texas Schools
Texas Careers San Antonio - Nurse's Aide, Vocational Nursing
 Utah Schools
University of Phoenix Salt Lake City - BS in Nursing (RN Required), MS in Nursing (RN Required)
Utah Career College West Jordan - Nursing
 Virginia Schools
ECPI Newport News , Northern Virginia , Manassas , Glen Allen , Roanoke - Practical Nursing
Medical Careers Institute Virginia Beach , Richmond , Newport News - Practical Nursing, Registered Nursing

* DeVry University is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association, www.ncahlc.org. Keller Graduate School of Management is included in this accreditation. In New York, DeVry University operates as DeVry College of New York. DeVry University operates as DeVry Institute of Technology in Calgary, Alberta. DeVry is certified to operate by the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia. AC0060. DeVry University is authorized for operation by the THEC. www.state.tn.us/thec. Nashville Campus - 3343 Perimeter Hill Dr., Nashville, TN 37211 Program availability varies by location.©2010 DeVry Educational Development Corp. All rights reserved