Parish Nurse Program
   


Delores Bosman (left) visits with Norma and John Bosman

Program overview
The purpose of the St. Joseph Hospital Parish Nurse Program is to prepare and support professional registered nurses, other health care professionals and lay leaders to collaborate with local communities of faith to maintain and improve the health and wellness of their congregations. 

The hospital provides a Parish Nurse Coordinator to establish and support parish nurses and health ministers who generally volunteer their time in Whatcom and surrounding counties.


Nurse preparation
Committed and interested persons complete the hospital sponsored Parish Nurse Preparation Course held annually in Bellingham, Washington. After completing this class, the parish nurse/health minister is equipped with the tools to facilitate the development of a health ministry within their faith community. Parish Nursing, or faith community nursing, is a congregational-based practice using advanced nursing knowledge and skills to promote wellness and optimal health and healing of individuals, families, and the faith community. 

Basic Parish Nurse Preparation Course: The next class instruction is scheduled for Winter 2008.

Click here for Resources for Parish Nurses

For further information contact:

Donna Gustin
Parish Nurse Coordinator, St. Joseph Hospital
(360) 715-6408


Participating Congregations (as of 1/06):

Whatcom County

Bellingham:
Alger Community Reform Church Bellingham Seventh Day Adventist
Birchwood Presbyterian Church Christ the Servant Lutheran Church
Faith Lutheran Church First Congregational Church/UCC
Hillcrest Chapel Immanuel Bible Church
Laurel Community Baptist Church Light and Life Christian Fellowship
Northside Community Church Sacred Heart Catholic Church
St. John's Lutheran Church St. Paul's Episcopal Church
Trinity Lutheran Church Mo Synod Woodside Church of Religious Science
Blaine:
Northwood Alliance Church  
Ferndale:
United Church of Ferndale  
Lummi Island:
Lummi Island Congregational Church UCC  
Lynden:
Church of the Nazarene First Reformed Church
Sonlight Community CRC  
Nooksack:
Nooksack Valley Reformed Church   
Other Faith-Based Institutions:
Interfaith Coalition  

Island County

Oak Harbor:
First Reformed Church Living Word Fellowship
Oak Harbor Lutheran Church  
San Juan County
Orcas Island:
Seventh Day Adventist  
Skagit County
Anacortes:
Celebration Lutheran Church Christ Episcopal Church
Burlington:
St. Charles Catholic Church  

La Conner:

Sacred Heart Catholic Church   
Mt. Vernon:
Emmanuel Baptist Church Immaculate Conception
La Iglesia de la Resurreccion St. Paul's Episcopal Church
Sedro-Woolley
Bethlehem Lutheran Church St. James Episcopal Church
British Columbia, Canada
White Rock
St. John's Presbyterian  

 

St. Joseph Hospital named
100 Top Hospital