Scope and Standards & Position Statements
Understanding Professional Practice Standards
Nursing standards of professional practice offer trusted, nationally recognized guidance on what safe, ethical, and high-quality nursing looks like. They define the expectations and responsibilities of nurses across all settings and provide a strong foundation for professional growth, decision-making, and accountability. For Faith Community Nurses (FCNs), these standards help integrate spiritual care with sound clinical judgment and ethical practice.
Whether you're exploring a call to become an FCN, already serving in that role, or part of a congregation or community interested in supporting one, these standards can offer peace of mind. They reflect the professionalism behind faith community nursing and show how the role aligns with broader nursing expectations.
Alongside the standards, position statements provide thoughtful guidance on specific topics relevant to practice. Developed through expert collaboration and grounded in research, they help FCNs navigate their unique settings with clarity and confidence.
Scope and Standards of Practice
The Faith Community Nursing: Scope and Standards of Practice, Revised 4th Edition is a professional guide that explains what faith community nursing is all about. It outlines the role, responsibilities, and values of nurses who serve in churches, clinics, and other faith-based settings. The book includes 18 national standards that help define how faith community nurses provide care, maintain professionalism, and support spiritual and physical health. Whether you're new to this specialty or have been in it for years, this resource helps clarify expectations and supports safe, effective, and spiritually grounded nursing practice.
Understanding and following the scope of practice is one way we protect ourselves and our nursing license—especially when volunteering in the community—by helping us know what we can and can't safely do in our role.
Purchase the updated FCN Scope and Standards of Practice Revised 4th Ed.
Timeline of FCN Scope and Standards Editions
Scope and Standards for Parish Nursing Practice (1998)
Faith Community Nursing: Scope and Standards of Practice, 1st Edition (2005)
Faith Community Nursing: Scope and Standards of Practice, 2nd Edition (2012)
Faith Community Nursing: Scope and Standards of Practice, 3rd Edition (2017)
Faith Community Nursing: Scope and Standards of Practice, 4th Edition (2021 or 2025 Revised)
Position Statements
The Westberg Institute's Position Statements address common questions and key issues related to Faith Community Nursing practice. These have been developed and refined by the Institute’s Research Committee and are grounded in current research, evidence-based practices, and relevant nursing literature. Each statement undergoes a thorough Delphi review process before publication and is regularly updated to ensure it reflects the most current and effective guidance for the field.
Faith Community Nursing Compared to Other Nursing Specialties
Inclusion, Diversity and Cultural Sensitivity
Hands-On, Direct Care and Specialized Care
The links above reference a product of the Westberg Institute Faith Community Nursing Research Team, a collaboration of the Westberg Institute for Faith Community Nursing, The Health Ministries Association, and Faith Community Nurses International. Written by D. Ziebarth on 3-28-2025 and edited by Cari Moodie, Mary Lynne, Knighten, Linda Garner, Deb Fell Carlson, Katherine Schoonover-Schoffner, Dylan Hendricks, Nancy Romanchek, Yvonne Askew, Mary Beaman, and Beverly Bateman. If referencing any individual position statement, use the following format: Westberg Institute, (2025). Position Statement: Compensation of the Faith Community Nurse [Position Statement]. https://www.westberginstitute.org/