Parish nursing, a process of authenticating self through wholistic theocentric interconnecting

The purpose of this study was to explore the meaning of parish nursing, a relatively new area of nursing practice, with nurses currently involved in parish nursing and who consider themselves in some form or another to be parish nurses, and with those others who have associated themselves with parish nursing in the roles of facilitators and supporters and who are active in the growth and development of the parish nursing process. This study utilized qualitative research methodology and data were analyzed using the constant comparison process of grounded theory. Twenty-two registered nurses who are engaged in parish nursing practice and nineteen people who support and facilitate parish nursing practice were interviewed by the researcher. In an open, unstructured format, those people described, explained and clarified what they believe parish nursing to be and parish nurses related their past life experiences, as well as their experiences as parish nurses. The meaning of parish nursing as described by participants in the study was communicated as a process of authenticating self through wholistic theocentric interconnecting, with six dominant progressions through the process. At the same time, the data depicted a herstory of reclaiming, reworking and making sense of the culture and heritage of nursing through the avenue of parish nursing, with resulting unification of symbolic and conceptual meaning for the nurses in the study. They described the process of becoming parish nurses as an avenue by which they have established wholeness for themselves by developing authentic relationship with the self, with others and with the Theo (God). Moreover, they described parish nursing as a means through which they can develop and deliver the wholistic care and practice they have always wanted to do. They report that they have found a sacred ministry. An understanding of the personal meaning of parish nursing is an essential element in the on-going development of parish nursing practice and education. This thesis does not propose to be a theoretical framework for parish nursing practice; however, it does contend that the process of authenticating self described by parish nurse participants and supported by those participants who facilitate and support parish nursing practice is useful to the parish nursing community for two reasons: (1) the process of authenticating self can be incorporated into existing theoretical frameworks, thereby 'giving voice' to parish nurses and those who facilitate parish nursing practice by allowing them to more concisely define the four functional components of nursing theory--nurse, client, health and environment; and (2) the process can be considered as the foundation for the future development of a theoretical framework for parish nursing practice research and education. Furthermore, it would be valuable to explore the concept of authenticating self through wholistic theocentric interconnectedness within a theoretical framework for parish nursing practice and test this framework with a larger group of parish nurses. This theoretical framework would be that of Florence Nightingale.