[hen-ui-dynamic-experience placement=”aboveTheFold” /][hen-ui-grid columns-md=”3″ gap=”md”] [hen-ui-card variant=”background-gray” border=”stroke” rounded=”lg” padding=”lg”] [hen-ui-card-content] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″ class=”text-cap font-bold uppercase mb-2″]How Long to Become[/hen-ui-text] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″ class=”text-4xl text-primary-800 font-heading font-bold mt-0″]2-4 years[/hen-ui-text] [/hen-ui-card-content][/hen-ui-card] [hen-ui-card variant=”background-gray” border=”stroke” rounded=”lg” padding=”lg”] [hen-ui-card-content] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″ class=”text-cap font-bold uppercase mb-2″]Job Outlook[/hen-ui-text] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″ class=”text-4xl text-primary-800 font-heading font-bold mt-0″]5% from 2024-2034[/hen-ui-text]For Registered Nurses (RNs) [/hen-ui-card-content][/hen-ui-card] [hen-ui-card variant=”background-gray” border=”stroke” rounded=”lg” padding=”lg”] [hen-ui-card-content] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″ class=”text-cap font-bold uppercase mb-2″]Average Salary[/hen-ui-text] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″ class=”text-4xl text-primary-800 font-heading font-bold mt-0″][hen-ui-link href=”https://www.payscale.com/research/US/Job=Parish_Nurse/Hourly_Rate”]$75,683[/hen-ui-link][/hen-ui-text]PayScale September 2025 [/hen-ui-card-content][/hen-ui-card][/hen-ui-grid][hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]What Does a Faith Community Nurse Do?[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Parish nurses assume a range of different roles, integrating faith and health in their practices. Their main responsibilities include the following:[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-flex gap=”xl” align=”left” direction=”column”][hen-ui-flex gap=”xs” align=”left” direction=”column”][hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]Popular Online Programs[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″ color=”subtext”]Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-flex][hen-ui-dynamic-experience placement=”belowTheFold” /][/hen-ui-flex][hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]Where Do Faith Community Nurses Work?[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Faith community nurse jobs can be found in churches of all denominations, faith-based organizations, community service centers, social service agencies, and hospitals. See the list below for some of the duties of parish nurses in different settings.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-list variant=”unordered” bullet-style=”bullet”] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-flex direction=”column” gap=”xxs”] [hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″][hen-ui-icon icon=”minus” color=”primary” aria-hidden=”true” /]Parishes[/hen-ui-heading] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Nurses counsel parishioners with health concerns and other healthcare needs; visit patients in hospitals and care facilities; and coordinate volunteers to assist church members with meals, transportation, and visits.[/hen-ui-text] [/hen-ui-flex][/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-flex direction=”column” gap=”xxs”] [hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″][hen-ui-icon icon=”minus” color=”primary” aria-hidden=”true” /]Community Service Centers[/hen-ui-heading] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Nurses refer clients to healthcare resources; liaise among faith-based congregations, hospitals, and community partnerships; and educate clients about disease prevention and wellness maintenance.[/hen-ui-text] [/hen-ui-flex][/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-flex direction=”column” gap=”xxs”] [hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″][hen-ui-icon icon=”minus” color=”primary” aria-hidden=”true” /]Hospitals[/hen-ui-heading] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Nurses collaborate with other multi-faith chaplains and healthcare staff; integrate spirituality into the healing process; and advocate for patients to care providers.[/hen-ui-text] [/hen-ui-flex][/hen-ui-list-item][/hen-ui-list][hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]Why Become a Faith Community Nurse?[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Parish nurse jobs feature a number of benefits, but, as a relatively new specialty area, faith community nursing also carries drawbacks. The table below offers a few pros and cons to the role.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]How to Become a Faith Community Nurse[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-list variant=”ordered” bullet-style=”check”] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-flex direction=”column” gap=”xxs”] [hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″]Earn an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) or a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN)[/hen-ui-heading] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]While [hen-ui-link href=”/degrees/adn/”]an ADN qualifies[/hen-ui-link] graduates to become RNs, many employers prefer to hire [hen-ui-link href=”/degrees/bsn/”]BSN-holders[/hen-ui-link] or master of science in nursing (MSN) graduates.[/hen-ui-text] [/hen-ui-flex][/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-flex direction=”column” gap=”xxs”] [hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″]Pass the NCLEX-RN to Receive RN Licensure[/hen-ui-heading] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Nursing program graduates study for and take the [hen-ui-link href=”/resources//nclex/guide/”]National Council Licensure Examination for RNs[/hen-ui-link] (NCLEX-RN). A passing score provides eligibility to apply for RN licensure.[/hen-ui-text] [/hen-ui-flex][/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-flex direction=”column” gap=”xxs”] [hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″]Complete a Faith Community Nursing Course[/hen-ui-heading] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Nurses seeking to focus on faith community nursing should enroll in a training course, such as foundations of faith in nursing, offered independently or as part of some BSN or MSN programs.[/hen-ui-text] [/hen-ui-flex][/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-flex direction=”column” gap=”xxs”] [hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″]Consider a Faith Community Nursing Certification[/hen-ui-heading] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]The American Nurses Credentialing Center offers certification in faith community nursing, which may enhance an RN’s marketability and expertise as a parish nurse.[/hen-ui-text] [/hen-ui-flex][/hen-ui-list-item][/hen-ui-list][hen-ui-article-card title=”Learn More About How to Become a Parish Nurse” href=”/careers/parish-nurse/” size=”compact” border=”stroke”][/hen-ui-article-card][hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]How Much Do Faith Community Nurses Make?[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]PayScale reports an average base salary of $75,683 a year for [hen-ui-link href=”https://www.payscale.com/research/US/Job=Parish_Nurse/Hourly_Rate” target=”_blank”]parish nurses[/hen-ui-link] and $74,617 for [hen-ui-link href=”https://www.payscale.com/research/US/Job=Faith_Community_Nurse/Hourly_Rate” target=”_blank”]faith community nurses[/hen-ui-link] as of September 2025. [hen-ui-link href=”/careers/parish-nurse/”]Salaries for faith community nurses[/hen-ui-link] are slightly under the median for all RNs, which the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) lists as $93,600.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Faith community nurses enter a growing job market; the BLS projects a 5% increase in RN employment from 2024-2034, which outpaces the average projected growth for all occupations. The demand for RNs stems from an aging U.S. population. RNs skilled in patient education should see a rise in opportunities, along with RNs who can provide home-based, outpatient, and residential care facility services, including in faith communities.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-article-card title=”Find State-Specific Salary Data” href=”/registered-nursing/” size=”compact” border=”stroke”][/hen-ui-article-card][hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]Resources for Faith Community Nurses[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-list variant=”unordered” bullet-style=”check”] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″][hen-ui-link href=”https://westberginstitute.org” target=”_blank”] Westberg Institute for Faith Community Nursing[/hen-ui-link][/hen-ui-heading] Westberg Institute supports the professional practice of faith community nursing with an educational curriculum, a knowledge sharing platform, an annual symposium, a research network, publications, and events. Membership is not required to access the institutes resources, and its faith community nursing foundations course trains practitioners throughout the world.[/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″][hen-ui-link href=”http://www.hmacofchrist.org/” target=”_blank”] Health Ministries Association[/hen-ui-link][/hen-ui-heading] Christian-based HMA educates healthcare professionals in rural areas worldwide and provides scholarships, health and spirituality workshops, networking resources and events, mentoring, and training. HMA offers membership to all healthcare practitioners along with a student membership for only $10 a year.[/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″][hen-ui-link href=”http://www.hhs.gov/fbci/” target=”_blank”] Center for Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships[/hen-ui-link][/hen-ui-heading] As part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the Partnership Center builds and supports faith-based and community alliances with the goal of serving communities, families, and individuals in need. The center publishes a newsletter, offers grants, hosts webinars, and posts toolkits and fact sheets on such topics as vaccination confidence, mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic, and the opioid epidemic.[/hen-ui-list-item][/hen-ui-list][hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]Frequently Asked Questions About Faith Community Nurses[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-accordion variant=”no-background”] [hen-ui-accordion-item title=”What is faith-based nursing?” expanded=”true”] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]The American Nurses Association defines faith-based or parish nursing as a nursing specialty area that focuses on intentional spiritual care within a process of preventing or minimizing illnesses and promoting holistic healthcare in a faith-based community. The specialization itself is relatively new but traces its roots to Christian healing ministries.[/hen-ui-text] [/hen-ui-accordion-item] [hen-ui-accordion-item title=”Can faith community nurses prescribe medicine?”] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Like other RNs, faith community nurses cannot prescribe medication. Depending on state laws, some MSN-level advanced practice registered nurses can write prescriptions. Prescribing medication does not typically fall within faith community nurses’ duties, but counseling clients on the importance of taking their medications falls within their roles as counselors and educators.[/hen-ui-text] [/hen-ui-accordion-item] [hen-ui-accordion-item title=”What does a parish do?”] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]A parish is a jurisdictional designation in which a local community organizes around a church and pastor of any Christian denomination. Parishes offer the members of the congregation social events and activities, service projects and opportunities, and community connections, particularly in rural areas.[/hen-ui-text] [/hen-ui-accordion-item] [hen-ui-accordion-item title=”What is the role of a faith community nurse?”] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]The role of a faith community nurse combines nursing practice and health ministry within a parish or faith community. Parish nursing includes several subroles such as advocate, educator, counselor, referral agent, and volunteer facilitator and coordinator. Faith community nurses help their clients focus on their health from a faith-based perspective.[/hen-ui-text] [/hen-ui-accordion-item][/hen-ui-accordion][hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]Reviewed by:[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-flex direction=”column” gap=”lg”][hen-ui-expert-bio name=”Nicole Galan, RN, MSN” img-src=”https://res.cloudinary.com/highereducation/image/upload/c_fill,h_300,w_300,f_auto,fl_lossy,q_auto:eco/e_grayscale/v1599580499/experts/Nicole_Galan.jpg” img-alt=”Nicole Galan, RN, MSN” layout=”horizontal” background=”white” /][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″ slot=”contentRight”]Nicole Galan is a [hen-ui-link href=”/registered-nursing/”]registered nurse[/hen-ui-link] who earned a master’s degree in nursing education from Capella University and currently works as a full-time freelance writer. Throughout her nursing career, Galan worked in a general medical/surgical care unit and then in infertility care. She has also worked for over 13 years as a freelance writer specializing in consumer health sites and educational materials for nursing students.[/hen-ui-text] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″ slot=”contentRight”]Galan is a paid member of our Healthcare Review Partner Network. [hen-ui-link href=”/healthcare-review-partners//”]Learn more about our review partners[/hen-ui-link].[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-flex]