Parish Nurse History
Parish Nursing is rooted in the early work of deaconesses and other religious sisters who worked in parishes promoting health from a whole person perspective. The contemporary side of Parish Nursing was
conceptualized by Reverend Granger Westberg as a result of his work with Holistic Health Centers in the 1970's.
In 1984 Reverend Westberg approached Lutheran General Health System, Park Ridge, Illinois, with the idea of partnering with local congregations in a parish nurse project. This resulted in six nurses being hired to work with six congregations. Represented in the six churches were two Roman Catholic Churches and four in the Lutheran and Methodist Churches.
In late 1986, the National Parish Nurse Resource Center was developed through the Mission Church Relations office of
Lutheran General Health System. The first Annual Westberg Symposium was held September 25,
1987.
In January of 1995, Lutheran General Health System, Park Ridge, Illinois,, Merged with Evangelical Health System, Oak Brook,
Illinois, to form Advocate Health Care. The International Parish Nurse Resource Center can be found on the Internet as part of the
Advocate Health Care home page.
Today, Parish Nurses are serving faith communities in the United States, Canada, Australia, and other parts of the world.
Parish Nursing falls under the Health
Ministries Association and is governed by the Scope and Standards of
Parish Nursing guidelines from the AMERICAN NURSES ASSOCIATION.
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