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| Home : Pastoral Nursing Care National Network |
Pastoral Nursing Care National Network
Editor Leonie Rastas MRCNA
Sub-editor Carmel McLeod MRCNA
The Pastoral and Nursing Care National Network was established in July 2009, in response to a request from a number of nurses who work in this area of professional focus, which embraces physical, mental and spiritual wellbeing. This new network will provide the opportunity for pastoral care nurses and other nurses, all equally committed to the provision of holistic health care connecting body, mind and spirit, to engage with one another. Interactive network discussion will provide the opportunity for nurses from various backgrounds to consider their responsiveness to individual beliefs and the initiation of appropriate referral pathways for people entrusted to their care. Network discussion may also create the opportunity to consider and explore the possible ethical dilemmas which are often faced by individuals, families and clinicians in the health care environment.
The role of the pastoral nurse is a relatively new concept in Australia and offers a unique specialty nursing practice based on the model developed by the Nursing Faculty at Loyola University, Chicago in consultation with American Lutheran Pastor Granger Westburg in the early 1980’s. Westburg conceived the idea after observing the added dimension faith filled nurses bought to their practice and wanted to extend that care beyond the hospital walls. The practice of parish nursing has now spread worldwide and parish/pastoral nurses operate in the USA, Britain, Finland, South Korea, Canada, Swaziland, Madagascar, New Zealand and Australia.
Specifically, the pastoral nurse role involves:
- counselling people on how to maintain good health by keeping a balance in their spiritual, emotional and physical lives.
- helping people find the connection between the spirit and health, particularly in times of suffering.
- promoting spiritual health in the faith community through health seminars and information exchange.
- speaking to doctors and other health providers on behalf of people who are experiencing difficulty in navigating the health system, and also referring onto other services if necessary.
- training, resourcing and supporting volunteers within specific community groups.
- developing exercise and support groups, for example, cancer support, grief and loss and prayer in movement classes.
The importance of spirituality in Healthcare is well recognised today and Australian Catholic University includes Spirituality in Healthcare as a core unit in their undergraduate nursing and direct entry idwifery course.
Interactive network forums
This is a place for RCNA members to get together and discuss their nursing interests and issues affecting their practice
- sharing tips, tricks, research and questions
- letting others know about interesting reading you've been doing, courses you've undertaken, insights you've had into your professional nursing practice
- contributing to the formulation of policy at RCNA by posting a comment on a current issue and
- accessing information about relevant events
Please click here to join in the discussions, please note you must be logged in to access this page.
Get published!
RCNA is always seeking work for publication in Connections, RCNA’s member-only network-driven nursing magazine. Find out how you can get involved here.
Join this network
Signing up to this network will connect you with other RCNA members who share your interest in this specialty area of nursing. Networks are free and easy to join – become a member instantly by clicking here. Please note, you must be logged in to join this network. You can unsubscribe at any time.
Leaving us? To withdraw from this network, click here. Please note, you must be logged in to withdraw from this network.
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More information?
Send your questions, comments and news to the RCNA team using the form below.
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