Parish Nursing Certificate

So, what do you do when you have a passion and calling for caregiving, but you also feel pulled toward a ministerial vocation in the church? You could fulfill both callings at once with our parish nursing and congregational health certification program. Perfect for those of you who work – or would like to work – in faith-based institutions. We offer several pathways to serve in congregational health ministries: Four-day Intensive Workshops, Annual Parish Nurse and Congregational Health Conferences, and Christian Caregiving courses.

Quick Facts

Credits 3

Careers

Nurse Assistant
Nursing Instructor
Clinical Nurse Specialist

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Financial Aid

The average undergraduate student award is $16,603.

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Program Overview

Since 1989, Concordia University Wisconsin has offered educational programs in congregational health ministries. More than 4,100 nurses and others have been introduced to the concept of Christian caregiving as parish nurses, including strategies to begin a congregational health ministry. This program integrates a Christian caregiving framework to developing a holistic congregational health and parish nurse ministry.

What to Expect

This program tackles parish nursing from all angles. You’ll get historical context, philosophy, theological frameworks, legal perspectives, and ethics. You’ll learn about Jesus’ own caregiving, and the caregiving that took place in the early church. You’ll get information on how to best serve people in crisis (from grief management to loss and depression to acute and chronic illness, and more.) You’ll learn documentation techniques, how to set up a parish nurse practice and office in your own church, and hear firsthand accounts from other parish nurses who have been there and done that.

You’ll look at different cultures and how they affect the practice of parish nursing. And you’ll learn about the mighty “B” word … budgeting. But the truth is, this is just scratching the surface. This program offers a wonderfully in-depth examination of what it means – and what it takes – to be a parish nurse.

Requirements

Contact Carol Lueders Bolwerk 262.243.4233 Carol.LuedersBolwerk@cuw.edu for course and conference information.

Carol Lueders Bolwerk

Program Director - Parish Nurse and Congregational Ministry, Professor

Program Scholarships

Scholarships are available for many Parish Nursing courses and workshops through the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod, Thrivent Financial, Lutheran Women’s Missionary League, Lutheran Parish Nurses International, Catholic Charities, and local healthcare organizations.