What Are the Characteristics of the Parish Nursing Research Literature and How Can it Inform Parish Nurse Practice and Research in Canada? A Scoping Review

Background Parish nursing is a specialized branch of professional nursing that promotes health and healing by integrating body, mind and spirit as a practice model. Parish nurses contribute to the Canadian nursing workforce by promoting individual and community health and acting as system navigators. Research related to parish nursing practice has not been systematically collated and evaluated. Purpose This review seeks to explore, critically appraise and synthesize the parish nurse (PN) research literature for its breadth and gaps, and to provide recommendations for PN practice and research. Methods A scoping review was conducted using Levac and colleagues’ procedures and Arksey and O’Malley's enhanced framework. The CINAHL, ProQuest and PubMed databases were comprehensively searched for original research published between 2008 and 2020. The final sample includes 43 articles. The Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool was used to critically assess literature quality. Results There is a significant gap in PN research from Canada and non-U.S. countries. Methodological quality is varied with weak overall reporting. The literature is categorized under three thematic areas: (1) practice roles of the PN, (2) role implementation, and (3) program evaluation research. Research that evaluates health promotion program interventions is prominent. Conclusions More rigorous research methods and the use of reporting checklists are needed to support evidence-informed parish nursing practice. Building relationships among parish nurses, nursing researchers and universities could advance parish nursing research and improve evidence-based parish nursing practice. Research into the cost effectiveness, healthcare outcomes, and the economic value of PN practice is needed.

Hope and Advanced Breast Cancer: Engaging with the Parish Nursing Community to Explore Hope in Women with Advanced Breast Cancer in Nigeria

Women with advanced breast cancer living in Nigeria face many obstacles and are very reliant on the support of faith communities, including parish nurses, who have a strong presence in Nigeria. Research with people with advanced cancer has shown the importance of hope as a source of strength and an important spiritual concept in their lives. Parish nursing focuses on the promotion of health within the context of the values, beliefs, and practices of the faith community. What distinguishes parish nursing care is the intentional integration of the body, mind, and spirit to create wholeness, health, and a sense of well-being even when the patient’s illness is not curable. This specialty nursing practice holds that all persons are sacred and must be treated with respect and dignity. In line with these beliefs, the parish nurse serves her community with compassion, mercy, presence, and justice. Community-based research is needed to explore what hope means for women in Nigeria with advanced breast cancer, in order to build essential and innovative nursing knowledge and provide opportunities to identify meaningful interventions and ways the faith community can support these women, their families, and their communities.