Westberg Institute Community
The heart of the faith community nursing movement, Acting locally, inspiring globally.
…the heart of the faith community nursing movement,
Acting locally, inspiring globally
Welcome to the Westberg Institute for Faith Community Nursing website. The Westberg Institute, originally known as the International Parish Nurse Resource Center, has been proudly serving parish/faith community nurses since 1986. Visit the information links at the top of this page to access information about the faith community nursing specialty - the history of faith community nursing in the United States and around the world, educational offerings and events, practice resources, and more. Join our Community Communication Platform to stay informed and to connect with others!
Interested in spiritual care in nursing but not necessarily in a faith community practice setting? Visit our sister website for information on how to build spiritual care competency in clinical nursing practice and to learn more about chaplaincy opportunities for nursing.
Whether you are an RN in a clinical practice setting, a faith community, or any other community setting, nurses who join the Spiritual Care Association Spiritual Care in Nursing Division to enjoy access to additional benefits and resources, including discounts for the annual International Westberg Symposium for Faith Community Nursing, the annual Caring for the Human Spirit Conference, chaplaincy training, and other educational offerings. Join today!
Westberg Institute Faith Community Nursing Position Statements.
Position Statements are a response by Westberg Institute to frequently asked questions and issues in Faith Community Nursing practice. Developed, edited, and revised by the Westberg Institute Research Committee, Position Statements are underpinned by Faith Community Nursing research and best practices and other literature in Nursing. Position Statements go through a Delphi review process before publishing and are revised routinely in order to provide current, best-practice guidance and information.
Comparing Other Nursing Specialties to Faith Community Nursing
Documentation
Evidence-Based Practice and the Faith Community Nurse
Faith Community Nursing and Home Health Nursing
Faith Community Nursing: Hands-On, Direct Care, and Specialized Care
Research and Scholarship
Transitional Care
Wholistic Health
Inclusion Diversity and Cultural Sensitivity
Compensation of the Faith Community Nurse
"When using information in part or in whole from the Position Statements on this website, use the citation format found at the end of the document."
The 2024 Foundations of Fatih Community Nursing Curriculum
is now available for pre-sale!
Click here to learn more.
Join the Faith Community Nurse Knowledge Sharing Platform!
The FCN knowledge sharing platform was created to provide a safe, private community for all faith community nurses and those interested in spiritual care in nursing with the ability to communicate electronically. The platform is free and community member emails are not shared or sold outside of the platform.
Nurses from around the world interact individually and through the many interest groups that make up the FCN Knowledge Sharing Platform. Joining is easy!
An invitation will be sent to your email (if you don't find it in your inbox, check your spam folder). Reply to the invitation and complete your profile. You may join any of the current groups or start a new group if you do not find a group that covers your specific interests. Be sure to join the announcements group to receive the latest information on activities, events, and topics for discussion.
For more Information and Registration, please click here.
12th Annual Caring for the Human Spirit® Conference and Westberg Symposium
April 28 – 30, 2025
VIRTUAL
Registration is Now Open!
Click here to learn more or to register.
Education & Resources
The Westberg Institute provides one-on-one, group and organizational support. We are a resource center. We are here to answer questions, provide resources, and education on various aspects of faith community nursing. We collaborate with the Spiritual Care Association to deliver the annual Caring for the Spirit Conference/Westberg Symposium. We host quarterly meetings for educators and coordinators, and host an events page where faith community nurses worldwide can post events. See our events calendar.
To send an inquiry to the office, click here.
Educational Curricula
Various courses developed by faith community nursing practice experts and coordinated by the Westberg Institute are taught internationally by educational partners through hospitals, organizations, and networks.
CNE Provider Unit
Spiritual Care Association Nursing Division is accredited as a provider of nursing continuing professional development by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation.
Course Topics
Foundations of Faith Community Nursing
Foundations of Faith Community Nursing is a 36.5-hour course focusing on the entry-level knowledge necessary for FCN practice. Its sections include spirituality, professionalism, wholistic health and community. This course fulfills the educational requirement for entry into practice in faith community nursing.
Leadership and Coordination Courses
The FCN Coordinator Course equips FCNs in leadership and management positions to work with FCNs in various practice areas and networks. Leadership, funding, communications and documentation are included topics.
The Educator Courses
The Educator Course provides instruction by Westberg Institute staff on how to teach the Foundations of Faith Community Nursing course as an educational partner. The modified curriculum is available to international partners to fulfill the needs and customs of healthcare practices in various countries.
Transitional Care Courses
The Updates in Transitional Care Series assists the participant to discover best-practice, research-based methods to enhance the care of people experiencing transition from one level of care to another by encouraging collaboration between the hospital and faith community in order to encourage wholistic health. Transitional care enhances the patient discharge experience from hospital to home and strives to eliminate unnecessary hospital re-admissions.