Parish Nursing - 2011 Edition

Verna Benner Carson, PhD, is the president of C&V Senior Care Specialists, Inc, a consulting firm that provides clinical training combined with operational and marketing support for two programs she developed: “Becoming an Alzheimer’s Whisperer” and “Road to Wholeness Behavioral Health.” She is also a clinical nurse specialist in psychiatric mental health nursing, an associate professor at Towson University in Baltimore, Maryland, where she teaches undergraduates the importance of loving the patients that God puts in our care, and the author of eight other books, including Spiritual Caregiving. Harold G. Koenig, MD, is board certified in general psychiatry, geriatric psychiatry, and geriatric medicine. He is on the faculty at Duke as professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences and associate professor of medicine. Dr. Koenig is Director of Duke’s Center for Spirituality, Theology and Health and has published extensively in the fields of mental health, geriatrics, and religion, with over 350 peer-reviewed articles and book chapters and close to 40 books in print or in preparation. He is also a registered nurse.

Preface / ix

Introduction / 3

1 Answering the Call / 9

2 Called to Serve: Ministry of Presence, Word, and Action / 32

3 The Journey of the Parish Nurse within the Church / 55

4 The Journey into the Community / 80

5 Preparation for the Journey / 103

6 Foundation and Models of Parish Nursing / 139

7 Establishing a Faith Community/ Parish Nurse Program / 154

8 Looking to the Future: The Next Generation of Parish Nursing / 166

Notes / 185

Index / 193