Māori approaches to nursing and compassionate caring top the agenda of this year’s Faith Community Nursing (FCN) conference to be held from September 10-11 in Nelson.

Workshops and seminars on the theme ‘Called to Care’ will help parish nurses deepen understanding of their ministry as registered nurses within faith communities.

Key speaker Linda Beebe (of Southland Hospital) will share her research on the role of compassion in nursing.

According to Linda, today's health system places strains on nurses that limit their ability to offer compassionate care. On the FCN website she explains how heavy workloads, budget cuts and invasive technologies can combine to fatigue frontline nurses and leave them drained of emotional energy. Her workshop will encourage faith community nurses to reinvigorate their caring by infusing their work with ‘God-ordained compassion’.

Hemaima Hughes, President of the National Council of Māori Nurses will lead a session on health care from a Māori world view, drawing on her work as Kai Whakahaere (Clinical Team Leader) for Te Piki Oranga Māori Health provider, and as Māori Liaison and Youth Education Nurse for Hapai Taumaha Hapūtanga (Crisis Pregnancy Support) in Nelson.

Forum workshops are designed to help registered nurses, faith community nurses, ministry leaders, DHB staff and other interested parties learn about the bridging, supporting and health promotion roles parish nurses can play in their communities.

Parish nurses often care for and advocate for parishioners undergoing surgery, health crises or managing illnesses, but also promote healthy lifestyles and offer spiritual care within their faith communities.

Nursing work in faith communities may include running older people’s foot care clinics, isolation-breaking meet-ups for people living alone, and offering extra check-ups and prayer for unwell parishioners and their families. Other parish nursing roles include promoting community health through church-based health education seminars on issues such as: early childhood wellness, psychological health, hearing loss or dementia.

Bishop of Nelson Richard Ellena is pleased to welcome the national faith community nursing forum back to the region, thirteen years after its inaugural meeting was held in Nelson City.

“Parish nursing is an incredible missional opportunity,” he said.

“The parish nurse is able to offer professional care alongside the pastoral care implicit in our faith and this is a powerful combination.”

 “As Mother Theresa once said, ‘Go out into the world today and love the people you meet. Let your presence light new light in the hearts of people.’”

“Parish nurses are trained, inspired and positioned to do exactly this.”

For further details about attending sessions or the conference as a whole, go to the NZFCNA website at www.faithcommunitynursing.nz or contact admin@faithcommunitynursing.nz.