Resource Centers
The World Forum of Parish Nursing Ministries has developed a structure for the world, that has created 7 regional Parish Nurse Resource Centers with the Westberg Institute for Faith Community Nursing being the hub in the US. The other regions that have been designated are: Europe, Africa, Asia, and those yet to be designated are Australia/New Zealand, Canada and Central/South America.
These regional Parish Nurse Resource Centers are charged with establishing a center that will promote Faith Community/Parish Nursing as a professional nursing specialty that is culturally appropriate for their region/countries, offer education, mentoring and networking among the Faith Community/Parish Nurses within their countries and region.
This will include offering Foundations of Faith Community Nursing courses, continuing education in the practice, networking with nurses, clergy and all interested in health ministry using Faith Community Nurses as part of that practice. They will be a resource to those in the region also for the International Foundations Curriculum, and sharing the guidelines for nurses taking the courses, educators and coordinators who lead groups of FCN/PNs in that area. They will be responsible to maintain the integrity of the Core Curriculum and educate/influence the nursing boards of those countries in that region regarding this practice.
Recent Accomplishments
The work of the World Forum has included development of the structure of Regional Parish Nurse Resource Centers that cover the globe regions, key documents to guide the practice of international Faith Community/Parish Nursing, such as:
- The Regional Parish Nurse Resource Centers Document–2011
- Guidelines for Teaching the Foundations of Faith Community Nursing Course Internationally
- World Forum–Recommendations for International FCN/ PN Faculty Education outside the US
- Foundations of Faith Community Nursing 2014 International Core Curriculum—in process
FCN Faculty Courses in England 2013, Pakistan, Africa—2016, Asia—2016.
FCN Knowledge Platform launching for more communication, education and networking—2016.