Congregational & Community Nurse Program
Cone Health’s Congregational & Community Nurse Program (CCNP) addresses health equity by bridging gaps in healthcare and serving clients in places of worship and community agencies. Congregational & Community Nurses (CCNs) provide community engagement by serving beyond the brick and mortar of hospitals or doctors’ offices to promote health and wellness of mind, body and spirit for individuals, congregations and communities.
Since 1998, participating CCNs serve as Faith Community Nurses (FCNs), which is a specialized nursing practice recognized by the American Nursing Association (ANA). FCNs serve in places of worship (including all denominations) and community/agency sites. FCNs must be registered nurses with active licenses and hold BLS certification. Learn more about FCN here.
The CCNP Promise
- We promise to be “right here with” our clients, providing health equity and free nursing services
- We promise to serve anyone who has a need: the indigent, those experiencing homelessness, immigrant/refugee populations, the under- and uninsured, low-wealth, frail elderly, the LGBTQ community, and more
- We promise to provide whole person care: body, mind and spirit
CCNP Goals of Care
- Provide access to care (establish a primary care provider) and referrals
- Reduce emergency department visits, hospital readmissions and length of stay
- Provide personal health counseling
- Address health disparities: transportation, housing, food, interpersonal safety, medications, etc.
- Extend the reach of a primary care provider and/or hospital
- Assist with navigating the health care system
- Education on disease prevention, disease management, medications, etc.
- Provide whole-person care: body, mind and spirit
- Support through prayer and spiritual care
- Provide nurse assessments and screenings: blood pressure, blood glucose, etc.
- Coordinate health screenings, health fairs and flu clinics
- Promote health screening referrals: annual wellness visits, vaccinations, cancer and diabetic screenings, etc.
- Make home, hospital or nursing home visits (Nurses do not serve as home health nurses or provide skilled nursing services)
- And more…
For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.”-Matthew 25:35-36
Addressing Rural Health
This video, featured on PBS's ncIMPACT, reviews how Cone Health and the Congregational & Community Nurse Program seeks to address rural health.
Make a gift to the Congregational & Community Nurse Program.
