From top left, back row: Wendy Fierro (HM – 2021), McKayla Powell (FCN – 2024), Linn County, OR; Melissa Kingery (FCN – 2024), Linn County, OR; Anna Eddleman (FCN – 2024), Linn County, OR; Tawni Pfaff, (FCN – 2020), Gretchen Koch (FCN – 2024), Marion County, OR; Ingrid Siadal (HM – 2024), Polk County, OR; Rabbi Jonah Freeman (HM – 2022), Rachel Jandera (FCN – 2024), Marion County, OR; Front row from left: Geeta Barr (HM – 2023), Marion County, OR; Jenn Rasor (FCN – 2024), Linn County, OR; Diana Cericola (FCN – 2024), Lincoln County, OR; Tiffany Wadlow (FCN – 2020), Linn County, OR; Kimberlee Sorci (HM – 2024), Linn County, OR; Marcy Shanks (FCN – 2020), Linn County, OR; Angel Harris (FCN – 2024), Benton County, OR; Kiersten Erickson (HM – 2021), Linn County, OR
FCHN hosts first post-COVID in-person graduation and dedication ceremony to honor current and COVID-era Foundations of Faith Community Nursing and Health Ministry Course graduates in December, 2024!
FCHN hosted an in-person ceremony to honor graduates of the 2024 Foundations of Faith Community Nursing Course on December 8, 2024 at Santiam Place in Lebanon, OR. Family and friends were invited to attend the ceremony. This was the first in-person event of its kind since 2018 when FCHN hosted the first Lebanon-area Foundations course. FCHN leadership took the opportunity to honor local graduates from classes graduating during or soon after COVID, as well. The ceremony was well attended and was a great time of fellowship, recognition, and sharing.
The 2024 class graduated twelve eager individuals who will be embarking on a spiritual journey that will take them deep into the intersection of faith and health! Seven past graduates were also honored, several of whom have been serving on the FCHN Board of Directors since its inception.
The course, using the Westberg Institute for Faith Community Nursing curriculum is offered by the Faith Community Health Network each fall and delves into everything from spiritual care in a variety of settings and faiths to health promotion and transitional care. Registered nurses gained knowledge to guide them in launching a faith community nursing practice in their setting, which could be a faith community, an apartment complex, a homeless outreach, or some other setting where nursing care is offered in the community. Health ministers learned about what it means to serve on a health ministry team and were introduced to local resources. Check out the 2024 graduates here and mark your calendar for the 2025 course.
This activity was approved by the Nursing Division of the Spiritual Care Association for 38 contact hours of continuing nursing education. Nursing Division of the Spiritual Care Association is accredited as an approver of nursing continuing professional development by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation. The curriculum is 36.5 hours with an additional 1.5 hours added to address Oregon State Board of Nursing topics relevant to faith community nursing practice.
This Foundations of Faith Community Nursing course is based on the curriculum developed through the Westberg Institute for Faith Community Nursing, which curriculum is owned by the Spiritual Care Association of New York, NY, 500 7th Ave, 8th Floor, New York, NY 10018.</em
