Faith Community Nurse (Parish Nurse)

Augustana Lutheran Church; Denver (CO); On-site; USD 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible work schedule

Opportunity to impact community health

Job summary

A vibrant faith community in Denver seeks a Registered Nurse to coordinate the Health Ministry, engaging with parishioners and promoting wellness. The role includes working collaboratively with church ministries and addressing health concerns through care and educational activities. Candidates must have a valid RN license in Colorado, at least 5 years of nursing experience, and a passion for fostering community health. Flexibility in scheduling is provided, with a commitment to service on Sundays and additional hours as needed.

Qualifications

• Registered nurse with an active RN license in Colorado.
• Minimum 5 years of nursing experience.
• Familiarity with Lutheran Christianity preferred.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate health promotion activities within the congregation.
• Assist parishioners with health-related concerns.
• Collaborate with ministries for community outreach.

Skills

Clinical knowledge of health and illness

Expertise in community health

Excellent communication skills

Problem-solving ability

Energy and passion for health ministry

Education

Baccalaureate degree in nursing

Master’s degree preferred

Job description

Position Overview:

Augustana Lutheran Church in Denver is seeking a Registered Nurse who thrives in unique work that combines faith, compassion, and congregational health and wellness. This position offers flexibility, creativity, and an opportunity to connect, teach, and encourage while coordinating the Health Ministry within the congregation and the community. The congregation’s Health Ministry moves individuals, groups, and communities towards wholeness in spirit, body, and mind.

About Augustana:

Augustana Lutheran Church is faithful, inclusive, and vibrant. At Augustana, we celebrate the intergenerational worship experience with even the youngest children welcome in the pews. We strive to nurture, support, and encourage children, youth, and families, showing God’s love with conversation, play, and acceptance.

The Faith Community Nurse leads alongside many committed and engaged members to shepherd our Health Ministry and Mental Health Ministry while collaborating with a lively Children, Youth, and Family Ministry and spirited 60+ Ministry. Augustana’s Health Ministry Committee collaborates with the faith community nurse to articulate the vision for the Health Ministry and recommend strategies, resources, and activities to achieve its goals. Our current Health Ministry team is strong and ready to support the FCN.

The Faith Community Nurse collaborates with pastors, staff, and lay ministry partners to build Christian community, share Christ’s love inclusively, and welcome newcomer participation. The FCN cooperates with all ministries of Augustana Lutheran Church for the spiritual development of the congregation and to fulfill its mission: Celebrating God’s grace, we welcome everyone to worship Jesus, grow in faith, and go serve in the world.

Members and newcomers of all ages have the option of two Sunday worship services–8:00 a.m. (Christ Chapel) or 10:30 a.m. (Sanctuary & Livestream). Worship attendance ranges from 125-225 in person with an additional 25 on livestream in real time and over a hundred views in the week following services; our membership numbers around 800. Our roots trace back to 1878 as a Swedish-Lutheran congregation. For more information find us at AugustanaDenver.org . Augustana’s urban campus is in the Hilltop neighborhood of east Denver. Members reside nearby in the neighborhoods and also come from across the Denver area.

Responsibilities

Major Responsibilities:

• Provide or coordinate health promotion and health education activities across the life span, highlighting relationships among lifestyle, faith, and well-being.
• Responds to health-related concerns of parishioners referred by individuals, families, and church staff by making visits to home, hospital, and other health institutions to evaluate needs, provide support, and assist in making plans for continuous care.
• Integrate faith and health in providing or referring people for individual health counseling, support groups, and healing prayer services.
• Collaborate with other Augustana ministries to coordinate outreach programs and opportunities for Augustana members and the surrounding community.
• Facilitate special events to provide access to health services such as blood drives, health screenings, foot care and exercises classes.
• Recruit, coordinate, and prepare licensed and unlicensed volunteers to assist in carrying out health ministry initiatives, respecting confidentiality.
• Partner with the Health Ministry Team to support congregational priorities such as Augustana’s community garden, knitting ministries, E4 Mental Health, 60 plus, etc.
• Facilitate weekly Care Team meetings.
• Produce and maintain prayer request list for Sundays and ongoing prayer chain.
• Coordinate the Home Communion Visitor and Bus Ministry.
• Refer individuals and families to appropriate community resources.
• Promote the advancement of faith community nursing through membership, mentorship, and participation in professional organizations.
• Conduct and document critical elements of professional practice in compliance with state regulatory agencies and scope of practice standards for faith community nursing.
• Minimum Requirement of two Sunday Mornings per month to include Health Ministry Sunday to perform blood pressures and be available as a resource to the congregation. Remaining hours can be flexible across four days of availability as long as they meet the needs of the congregation.

Knowledge/Skills/Abilities:

• Demonstrates broad-based clinical knowledge of health and illness.
• Expertise in community health, family dynamics, principles of wellness, and care management.
• Committed to professional growth and development.
• Concerned with the development and wellbeing of all age groups.
• Spiritual maturity in personal faith journey and active church member.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Proficient in computer applicatioFaithns and Internet usage.
• Ability to problem solve objectively and independently.
• Familiarity with end-of-life and health insurance issues.
• Demonstrates energy, excitement, and passion for health ministry.
• Exhibits creativity and flexibility.

Qualifications:

• Registered nurse, currently with an active and unencumbered RN license in the State of Colorado.
• Minimum baccalaureate degree in nursing; master’s degree preferred.
• Minimum 5 years of nursing experience.
• Certification as Faith Community Nurse preferred, or expectation of completion of Faith Community Nurse Training within 6 months to 1 year of starting the position, paid for by Augustana’s Health Ministry.
• Understands and agrees to comply with the American Nurses Association’s Faith Community Nursing: Scope and Standard for Practice, 3rdEdition.
• Respects Augustana’s faith and practices, and embraces a spirit of welcome to children and adults of all ages, abilities, and attributes.
• Familiarity with Lutheran Christianity preferred.
• Maintains professional liability insurance policy.
• Minimum 2 years of supervisory experience preferred

Physical Requirements

To perform the essential functions of this position, an individual must meet these minimum physical requirements.

• Climbing stairs. Ascending and descending stairs to gain access to a building or to move from one floor to another.
• Fingering. Working primarily with fingers rather than whole hand or arm (e.g. typing, touching, and other fine motor skills).
• Grasping. Applying pressure and strength to an object with fingers and palm, often used with intent to stabilize or move an object.
• Hearing. Ability to detect specific sounds required by clinical practice (e.g. auscultations); hears well enough to understand normal conversations.
• Lifting/carrying. Raising an object weighting up to 20 pounds from a lower to a higher position or physically transporting such items from one location to another.
• Repetitive hand motion. Movements of the wrist, hands and fingers for sustained periods of time (e.g. working at personal computer; hand writing forms.
• Sitting/standing. Ability to sit and stand for periods up to one hour in duration.
• Visual acuity. Ability to see and read computer screens and medical screening devices; ability to read normal type-size print.
• Walking. Moving about on foot for periods of at least 15 minutes while gaining reasonable distance without significant distress.