Calvin College will offer another next January, February and March.

Parish nursing is a 2,000-year-old tradition, partnering caregivers and churches in a relationship that seeks to heal body, mind and spirit. Its earliest roots are with the monks and nuns who provided care for the sick and caring for the children, the widowed and the poor during the early days of Christianity.

Although parish nursing waned for a time, as modern medicine took over caring for the sick, the tide has turned. Parish nursing is mounting a comeback. And the Calvin College department of nursing is lending a hand.

Almost 100 registered nurses have completed the 36-hour parish nurse basic preparation course at Calvin College since the program began in fall 2003. These nurses join more than 10,000 other parish/faith community nurses in the US, Canada, Australia and several other countries.

The 2007 course at Calvin will be January 26-27, February 16-17 and March 16-17 with classes from 4 pm to 9:30 pm on Fridays and 9 am to 6 pm on Saturdays.

Calvin nursing professor Beth Gordon says a parish or church nurse is a registered nurse who works with a specific congregation to help church members maintain and improve their quality of life. She adds that the functions of a parish nurse will vary according to the needs of the congregation, but that the various roles may include integrator of faith, health educator, health counselor, referral agent and facilitator of volunteers and support groups.

A parish nurse usually does not provide "hands on care" or duplicate services. Rather, the parish nurse partners with other health care providers and church staff in responding to health care concerns and empowering individuals to take a more active part in their health care management.

In 1997 parish nursing was designated by the American Nursing Association as a speciality practice.

Nurses interested in the 2007 course can contact Beth Gordon at 616-526-7076.