Parish Nurse – Career and Education Profile

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Working as a parish nurse combines medical knowledge with religious faith, allowing you to help patients from all walks in life in a way that combines physical and spiritual healing.

Job Responsibilities

Parish nurses do many of the same tasks as general staff nurses of the same educational level. The only difference is that as a parish nurse, you’ll work in a faith-based community and may take a patient’s spiritual needs into consideration as you focus on treating physical and mental problems as well. Parish nurses may complete basic nursing tasks, but can also be called on for tasks such as counseling, praying with a patient, and other faith-based duties. You could work in a general medical facility, serving members of your faith community who are admitted, or you could work for a religious organization.

Salary and Career Options

The salary you’ll make as a parish nurse depends on your education level and where you work. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, registered nurses make $66,530 annually. The top ten percent make an average of $93,700, so even a six-figure salary is possible if you’re an RN. In many cases, parish nurses work on a part-time basis, or you may work at a facility like a religious summer camp, so you may instead get paid a stipend that is lower but comes attached with free housing and food.

Educational Requirements

You can get started working as a parish nurse by going through an LPN educational program. You can then consider becoming an RN, which requires you to go back to school to earn either an associate’s degree or a bachelor’s degree in nursing, which you can do through a typical RN program or through a LPN-to-RN program. There are also graduate-level nursing programs you can consider, an many parish nurses like to take addition faith-based classes.

LPN to RN College Programs

With some additional schooling, a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) can become a registered nurse (RN), opening doors to more job opportunities and higher salaries. The following is a list of schools with the best online LPN to RN degree programs offered by accredited colleges. You can request information by clicking the college's logo.

LPN to RN (BSN)	Indiana State University—ISU’s LPN to BSN degree program is the only online LPN to RN training program in the United States. LPNs and LVNs who complete this program can earn their NLNAC-approved Bachelor of Science degree in nursing entirely online. Upon completion, graduates should meet all of the prerequisites for becoming an RN. Read an in-depth review of Indiana State University.
LPN to RN LPN to ADN LPN to BSN	The College Network—Earn your LPN to RN (ADN) degree completely online with no campus attendance and no wait list. Learn from the convenience of home at your own pace, and earn an NLNAC-accredited associate’s degree in less time and for less money than traditional campus programs. Read an in-depth review of The College Network.
	Select a subject and degree level, then click "Find My Degree" to browse 100+ online nursing schools offering relevant accredited programs.
BS in Nursing RN to MSN MSN in Nurse Education MSN in Nurse Informatics MSN in Nurse Management	Walden University—Founded in 1970, Walden University is dedicated to providing education for a higher purpose. The Nursing School confers degrees at the bachelor’s and master’s level, which provides further study in health informatics, nursing education, and nursing leadership/management. Walden is one of the biggest providers of online master and doctorate programs with over a hundred degrees offered at each level.
RN to BSN MS in Nursing (MSN) MSN in Adult Health RN to MSN in Nurse Education Accelerated RN to MSN	South University—South University’s College of Nursing offers numerous degree programs for aspiring nurses. Those looking for a BSN degree can enter into the RN to BSN and complete it within 18 months. South also offers the following master’s degree-level programs: MS in Nursing (MSN), MSN in adult health nurse practitioning, MSN in nurse education, and an accelerated RN to MSN.
RN to BSN RN to MSN MSN in Nurse Administration MSN in Nurse Education	Kaplan University—Kaplan University’s RN to BSN and RN to MSN programs feature curriculums that provide registered nurses with the tools to graduate with BSN and MSN degrees. The MSNs in Nurse Administration or Nurse Education feature curriculums that teach methods in management and education in order to prepare students for leadership and educator positions with in the nursing field.