Faith Based Communities and NursingCommunity health nursing started as churches treating the

Faith Based Communities and NursingCommunity health nursing started as churches treating the sick and marginalized populations that eventually evolved into modern faith community nursing, serving as a liaison between healthcare professionals and remedial faith communities. One third of the world’s population is deemed an organized faith community. Because the fundamentals of faith are rooted care and commitment to serving vulnerable populations churches care for a vast array of patients including refugees, homeless, low-income families, and disaster struck communities among others. Faith community nurses (FCN) promote wellness to all walks of life through health-related resources whilst combining spiritual dimensions of nursing (Hixon & Loeb, 2018). Westberg describes the seven key roles of the FCN as a mediator of spirit and health, wellness educator, support group facilitator, volunteer coordinator, medical advocate, personal health counselor, and referral moderator (Hickman, 2011). This paper will analyze the role of the FCN in the faith community setting, health promotion nursing interventions, and professional nursing organizations. Community SettingPrevention health services as a health advocate are one of the seven ways that FCNs can provide health-care resources in faith communities (Nies & McEwen, 2019). Prevention services are important to reduce disease rates and provide educational services to promote wellness while incorporating spiritual characteristics of the individual and their community. Although all ages are served, FCNs must assess the populations served and adapt. Some examples of health prevention teachings include proper nutrition for elderly and child populations, management of chronic disease, improved independence for elderly, mentally ill, or disabled, and resource networking for low-income/ homeless populations (Ziebarth, 2016). Prevention health services are also provided in the form of health screenings and management of chronic disease including high blood pressure, diabetes, cancer, and many more. FCNs can promote health as a medical advocate by reducing the risk associated with disease and independently promote self-managing especially with uninsured patients. In addition to prevention health services, FCNs can serve as a support group facilitator in their congregation. Support groups can be found in places of faith and serve as a system of common faith, values, and further support (Nies & McEwen, 2019). Support groups are for anyone who is willing to receive services including a variety of vulnerable including: children, elderly, malnourished, pregnant women among others. Different than self-help groups, support groups provide group education and spiritual activities in social support situations (Ziebarth, 2016). Much of the older population identifies with values and beliefs in faith, thus many support groups for older populations can cover death, cancer, exercise, and disease management.Health Promotion Nursing InterventionChrysanthe Patestos describes faith-based health promotion as “…[a] concept which recognizes the value of intentional integration of faith-informed content in health education and health counseling programs which aim to promote health, prevent disease, or lower risk of disease at the individual, community, and societal level” (2019). Importance is placed upon the spiritual foundation of nursing to intention treat the spirit and reach maximum health. One of these interventions is Healthy People 2020 where the goal is to increase the quality of education to prevent disease and improve patient quality of life (Nies & McEwen, 2019). Public health agencies form partnerships, many including faith-based communities, to address obesity and chronic diseases especially in Hispanic and African American populations where obesity rates are highest (Patestos, 2019). Faith-based communities can provide a positive influence on their church members especially in groups at a greater risk. For example, FCNs can educate church leaders on food served at church outings. Another intervention is “Get My People Going” which is a comprehensive wellness program started by FCNs for congregations. There is an 8-week program based on the foundations of Exodus to inspire activity, proper food choices, and the use of community support (Nies & McEwen, 2019). The leader guide is designed to improve body and spirit and seek good health. FCNs in this intervention provide educational services and provide health care recommendations for diet and exercise. Professional Nursing OrganizationThe Nurses Christian Fellowship (NCF) is a professional Christian organization that doubles as a ministry for practicing nurses and nursing students. NCF is a local, national, and international fellowship. The purpose as a ministry is to advance communities of nursing who follow Jesus as Savior and Lord and serve God’s purposes in nursing (NCF, n.d.). They provide resources for nursing students such as bible study materials, prayer calendars, outreach programs, spiritual care resources, and applying the bible to nursing practice. Nurses can find local groups and connect with nursing educators to improve spiritual care into nursing practice. This organization addresses religious tolerance. Christian nursing is a holistic approach that cares for all aspects of the human spirit, including spirituality, despite the patient’s religious views. NCF publishes nursing practices based on spiritual care that avoid conflict. They emphasize following the patient’s lead and using nursing to serve God in a non-Christian or Christian context. SummaryA faith-based community has deep historic roots based on providing care for disenfranchised populations for basic human needs. Faith community nurses serve many roles including wellness educator, medical advocate, and support group facilitator in their congregations. Health promotion nursing interventions such as Healthy People 2020 and Get My People Going provide spiritual content to promote wellness programs. The Nurses Christian Fellowship give nursing and nursing students the opportunity and resources to integrate spirituality into everyday nursing practices. Faith community setting are unique part of the nursing network. Despite differences, the large network of nursing communities serves one purpose in common: to provide collaborative and restorative care to the sick.  ReferencesHickman, J. S. Fast Facts for the Faith Community Nurse : Implementing FCN/Parish Nursing in a Nutshell. New York: Springer Publishing Company, 2011. Disponível em: . Acesso em: 21 maio. 2019.Hixson, L. B., & Loeb, S. J. (2018). Promoting Successful Aging Through Faith Community Nursing. Journal of Christian Nursing, 35(4), 242–249. https://doi-org.chamberlainuniversity.idm.oclc.org/10.1097/CNJ.0000000000000528NCF Purpose and Beliefs. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://ncf-jcn.org/membership/ncf-purpose-and-beliefsNies, M. A., & McEwen, M. (2019). Community/Public health nursing: Promoting the health of populations (7th ed.). St. Louis, MO: Saunders/Elsevier.Patestos, C. (2019). What Is Faith-Based Health Promotion? A Working Definition. Journal of Christian Nursing, 36(1), 31. Retrieved from https://search-ebscohost-com.chamberlainuniversity.idm.oclc.org/login.aspx?direct=true&db=edo&AN=133443822&site=eds-live&scope=siteZiebarth, D. (2016). Altruistic and economic measurements used for prevention health services: Faith community nursing program. Evaluation and Program Planning, 57, 72–79. https://doi-org.chamberlainuniversity.idm.oclc.org/10.1016/j.evalprogplan.2016.02.004