A Faith Community Nurse (FCN), is a registered nurse who intentionally integrates professional nursing practice with spiritual care to promote holistic health of the body, mind, and spirit within a faith-based community. This definition is provided by the Westberg Institute, a leading organization supporting and advancing Faith Community Nursing worldwide through education and resource centers.
Faith Community Nursing is a recognized nursing specialty by the American Nurses Association (ANA) and aligns with the ANA Public Health Nursing: Scope and Standards of Practice. Both FCN and public health specialties emphasize population health, health promotion, disease prevention, health equity, collaboration, and advocacy. Faith Community Nurses serve faith communities as their defined population. FCNs address physical, emotional, social, and spiritual determinants of health.
In Oklahoma, FCNs serve in food pantries, vaccine clinics, free clinics, parish health ministries, support groups, and transitional care initiatives. They assist parishioners in navigating specialty care, accessing community resources, and transitioning safely from hospital to home or facility. Like public health nurses, FCNs assess community needs, develop health programs, implement evidence-based interventions, and evaluate outcomes. FCNs practice within Oklahoma state nursing regulations and the Faith Community Nursing: Scope and Standards of Practice.
Faith Community Nursing strengthens community partnerships, reduces barriers to care, and builds trust. FCNs function as health educators, advocates, referral agents, coordinators of volunteers, and integrators of faith and health. Their work supports prevention, improves care coordination, and enhances health literacy, all key priorities within public health nursing practice.
Faith Community Nursing in Oklahoma began with the first Foundations course in 1999. The FCN’s of Oklahoma meet quarterly and recently celebrated their 19th Annual Conference, reflecting the continued growth and impact of this specialty across our state.
If you are a nurse who values prevention, community engagement, and whole-person care, faith community nursing offers a meaningful way to extend your faith into your professional practice. Whether you are actively practicing, retired, or serving in public health, acute care, education, or administration, your skills and experience are deeply needed.
Faith Community Nursing creates a unique opportunity to integrate professional nursing with spiritual care, supporting the health of body, mind, and spirit within your faith community. In this role, you become a bridge between healthcare and faith, offering education, advocacy, connection to resources and a compassionate presence.
Your faith community can benefit from your knowledge, your leadership, and your heart for service, in return, you may find a renewed sense of connection and purpose. Faith Community Nursing is a professional nursing practice rooted in compassion. Join us in strengthening the health of Oklahoma, one faith community at a time.
To learn more about becoming a Faith Community Nurse in Oklahoma, visit www.fcnaok.org.
Join us for our next Foundations of Faith Community Nurses course. This course offers 39.6 contact hours and provides registered nurses with the knowledge, skills, and spiritual framework needed to integrate professional nursing practice with spiritual care and community ministry. The course will be held October 21-23 and November 4-6 at Kramer School of Nursing. Registration is limited to 12 participants. Scholarships are available.
For information contact Dr. Dia Campbell-Detrixhe at ddcampbelldetrixhe@okcu.edu or call 405-625-4481.
Brandi currently serves as President of the Faith Community Nurses Association of Oklahoma and as a member of the St. Francis Xavier Early Childhood Board. Her professional career and volunteer service reflect a deep commitment to stewardship, compassionate leadership, and improving lives through faith-centered, community-focused care.
