Differences between parish nurses and parish nurse associates: results of a statewide survey of an ecumenical network.
OBJECTIVE
To gather data that would help a parish nurse network to better understand its participants and to explore differences between parish nurses who had completed the basic preparation class versus those who had not in terms of engagement in activities. DESIGN, SAMPLE, AND MEASUREMENTS: A mail survey, including items related to communal orientation, was developed and sent to members of a state-wide parish nurse network (n=265), with 165 surveys returned for a 62% response rate for this descriptive study.


RESULTS
Approximately half of the parish nurses indicated that they entered this specialty through church contacts (27.0%) or through the encouragement of family/friends (22.7%). Nurses not completing parish nursing education/training (47%) were significantly more likely to (a) be younger (55 vs. 59 years of age), (b) work fewer hours (8 vs. 16), and (c) provide fewer activities/services for their congregations (4.8 vs. 6.2). Overall, the nurses described themselves as being "communally oriented," that is, desiring to give and receive benefits in response to others' needs.


CONCLUSIONS
The findings support previous speculations that some self-identified parish nurses function in an "associate" role. Such associates lack the basic preparation class in parish nursing and work fewer hours each month.
Mosack
Victoria
V
Department of Psychology, Wichita State University, Wichita, Kansas 67620-0034, USA. vamosack@wichita.edu
Medvene
Louis J
LJ
Wescott
JoVeta
J
D002321:Career Choice; D002835:Christianity; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007615:Kansas; D008875:Middle Aged; D009739:Nursing Services / Q000458:organization & administration; D010327:Pastoral Care; D012945:Social Values; D013041:Specialties, Nursing / Q000193:education*; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis; D000078329:Workforce