The Faith Community Nurse Network (FCNN) offers the Foundations Course based on the newest curriculum developed through the Westberg Institute for Faith Community Nursing, which is owned by the Spiritual Care Association, New York, NY. The course is a pre-requisite for RNs who want to become Faith Community Nurses and incorporates the ANA Scope and Standards of Practice for Faith Community Nursing.
Our unique course provides 38.25 contact hours taught by a diverse faculty of advanced degreed nurses with experience in education and faith community nursing. We welcome all faiths to our course and engage our students in active learning.
Fall 2023 Course
This course is jointly provided by Faith Community Nurse Network and the Spiritual Care Association Nursing Division. The Spiritual Care Association Nursing Division is accredited as a provider of nursing continuing professional development by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation. ANCC Provider Unit # P0623. ANCC contact hours are accepted in all states. If you are an international participant consult your accrediting body.
Dates:
Saturdays- 9/30; 10/14; 10/28
8:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m (Central)
and
Fridays- 10/6; 10/27; 11/3
8:00 a.m.– 4:00 p.m. (Central)
All 6 sessions are required
Deadline to register: September 15, 2023
Course Description
Our course includes the 15 required modules plus a module on Trauma-Informed Care for FCNs for a total of 38.25 contact hours. Learning outcomes for the 15 modules are based on the Westberg Institute’s curriculum.
You’ll learn:
- What makes Faith Community Nursing unique from other nursing specialties
- How to blend your nursing knowledge and skills with the spiritual dimension of FCN practice; how to “intentionally care for the spirit” of your clients in your ministry
- Practical steps for beginning your ministry including professionalism, communication, teamwork, legal and ethical issues
- How to promote whole-person health in your FCN practice
- How healing, health, prayer and spirituality are integral aspects of FCN
- How to care for yourself as you care for others
Prospective Students
The Course is designed to meet the needs of Registered Nurses; only RNs will receive Continuing Education Units. Chaplains, health ministers, faith community nursing coordinators and other related professionals may also enroll in the class but will not receive certification as a faith community nurse.
Cost
The cost of the online course is $425. This fee includes contact hours, materials and certificate. A deposit of at least $200 is due at registration with the balance due by the first day of the course. The full $425 can be paid at registration.
Refund policy: Cost will be refunded, except for $200 deposit, if request is received no later than 2 weeks before start of course.
Scholarships
The Faith Community Nurse Network is pleased to offer scholarships to help defray the cost of the Foundations of Faith Community Nurse course.
The Catholic Faith Community Nurse Ministry Association also has $250 scholarship opportunities available to increase the number of FCNs in Catholic churches. Contact Nancy at nancyludescher@churchofstdominic.org for more information.
The Evangelical Lutheran Parish Nurse Association (ELPNA) offers funds to start a new ministry or develop new programs for existing ministries. Contact Lu Kimpel at kimpel10@gmail.com for more information.
Please contact the FCNN office about scholarship opportunities.
Faculty

Sondra Weinzierl, RN, MA, FCN
Lead Faculty
Sondra received her Bachelor in Nursing degree from Gustavus Adolphus College and her Masters of Arts degree from the University of St. Thomas in Adult Education and Human Resource Development with a Certificate in Training. Her nursing experience includes Medical-Surgical, Neurology, Diabetes Education and Health Promotion and Education. Sondra was the owner of Weinzierl Education Associates for over 25 years and provided workshops, team facilitation, strategic planning and health promotion consultation to a wide variety of organizations in government, health care, education and industry. She has served as an FCN in faith communities in Boston, MA and in Minnesota over the past 11 years. She received her board certification in Faith Community Nursing in 2018.

Jessica Drecktrah, MHA, MN, RN, FCN
Chief Nursing Officer, Adjunct Faculty
Jessica is Faith Community Nurse Network’s Chief Nursing Officer. From 2016-2018, Jess launched FCNN’s Stepping On program as its Program Director. Recently, Jess served as Vice President of Life Enrichment for Presbyterian Homes & Services. At PHS, Jess provided service to 8,000+ senior housing residents with leadership responsibility for the functions of life enrichment, volunteerism, fitness, wellness coordination, wellness nursing, and dementia care. Over the last decade, she has championed innovative healthcare initiatives within academia, provider settings, and retail. Jess has also served as a management consultant to the YMCA to help define their healthy aging strategy and launch the George Wellbeing Center. She also has held leadership positions within Target, the University of Minnesota, Allina Hospitals and Clinics, and Ecumen. Her areas of expertise include strategy development, program development, as well as project and performance management.

Lori Anderson, RN, MSN, PHN, FCN
Adjunct Faculty
I have had the privilege of practicing and leading in faith community nursing in several roles over the past 20+ years. Currently, I am Assistant Professor of Nursing at the University of Northwestern-St. Paul School of Nursing. Additionally, I coordinate student clinical experiences which include using FCN Preceptors. I have the opportunity to teach content that introduces students to the FCN role and I have students working with me in my own FCN role as Pastoral Nurse at Scandia Shores Senior Living. Prior to my work at Northwestern, I launched and developed the HealthEast Faith Community Nurse Network. I’ve been involved in the Faith Community Nurse Network of the Greater Twin Cities since its inception in 2005, and have held a variety of roles over the years, most recently on the Research Committee. I have an MSN from Bethel University and also completed a Clinical Pastoral Education Program in 2005.

David Cheesebrow, MPA, MN, RN, FCN
Adjunct Faculty
David holds a BA in Nursing and Psychology, a MA in Public Administration and Nursing. He was certified in Critical Care (CCRN) and Emergency Nursing (CEN) for 5 years. His clinical experience has been in critical care, emergency care as both a nurse and educator. His geriatric experience includes, expansion of the Block Nurse Program in Highland Park in St., Paul, completion of the Faculty Learning about Geriatric (FLAG) program, and a co-author of a chapter on Emergent care of Older Adults in Gerontological Nursing by Dr. K. Mauk. He retired from Bethel University where he team taught in nursing to older adults, end of life simulation, and leadership. He started as a FCN in 2018 and has been Head Deacon of his local church for 20 years.

Deborah Hamilton, MDiv, RN, BSN, FCN
Adjunct Faculty
Deborah received her initial Registered Nurse Diploma from St. Joseph Hospital School of Nursing in Memphis, TN. After 12 years of service as a Nurse Administrator, Operations and Training Officer, and Medical Recruiter with the Army Nurse Corps, Deborah completed her RN to BSN Degree from Northeastern University and Master of Divinity from Boston University. Deborah has completed five units of Clinical Pastoral Education and she is in the dissertation phase of her doctoral studies at Walden University towards a PhD in Public Health with a focus on Community Health. Deborah’s nursing experience includes Oncology, Orthopedic, Case Management, and Home Health Nursing. She currently provides support to Boston Medical Center as a per diem Chaplain. She has been a Faith Community Nurse since 2019.

Sr Annette Toft Langdon, MA, BSN, RN, FCN
Adjunct Faculty
The weaving of faith and health has been prevalent throughout Annette’s career, from nursing and faith community nursing to chaplaincy and spiritual care, to advance care planning and the title of deaconess. Annette is thought of as a pioneer in FCN in Minnesota and has served in both rural and metropolitan communities. Annette has talked and taught about Faith Community Nursing in many venues, including: education and retreats for FCNs; as Adjunct Faculty for Concordia College, Moorhead; presentation of papers and workshops at the Westberg Symposiums; authoring of curriculum on prayer and spiritual care; and authoring two chapters in two books on FCN. Annette received a BSN from Mankato State Collage, Mankato MN and an MA in Pastoral Theology from Luther Northwestern Theological Seminary, St. Paul MN. She has completed five units of Clinical Pastoral Education, is a rostered leader in the ELCA and a member of the Deaconess Community of the ELCA. Now in retirement, her personal mission is to share compassion and to be a healing presence in the world.

Beth Peterson, D.Min, MSN, RN
Adjunct Faculty
Beth has a BSN from the University of Illinois Medical Center; an MSN in Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing from the University of Minnesota, and a Doctor of Ministry degree in Congregational and Family Care from Bethel Seminary. She taught nursing at Bethel University for over thirty-five years where she served as a faculty member and Nursing Department Chair. While at Bethel she taught courses in mental health nursing, nursing care of the elderly, gerontology, end of life care, and the theology of suffering. She is also the author of the chapter “Spiritual Awareness” in the forthcoming text Psychiatric/Mental Health Nursing: From Suffering to Hope by Potter and Moller.

Dr. Daniel U’Ren, D.Div
Adjunct Faculty
Dr. Daniel U’Ren, M.Div, is the Senior Minister at Western Oaks Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Oklahoma City. His ministerial career began in 1999 when he became the Youth Minister for First Christian Church (DOC) in Emporia, KS, but has served in churches in Oklahoma since 2001. In addition to serving full time at WOCC, he volunteers with the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma on the Corporate Fundraising Committee and he serves as the chair for the City/County Health Department’s Wellness N.O.W. Coalition Faith-based committee and has helped to create a health ministry academy in Oklahoma City.
He has served on a number of boards involving health issues including the Tulsa Teen Pregnancy Prevention Coalition, served as a State Substance Abuse Advisory Facilitator, coordinated suicide prevention trainings, and helped to create programs for children encouraging healthy choices including Girl Power, BASIC Training, and Woodward’s Outstanding Winners (WOW) in partnership with the Woodward County Health Department. He has also been the guest speaker for groups like the Faith Community Nurses of Oklahoma, State Department of Health’s Certified Healthy Congregations training events.
Prior to the ministry he served in the United States Army as a medical specialist and served as the supervisor of the base emergency room and in charge of the field emergency room. In ministry, his passion for the advancement of wellness has included the development of health fairs, community events, partnerships with outside groups and incorporating church events to promote increasing physical activity, such as the “Walk to Jerusalem” during Lent. He has also helped churches achieve the level of excellence through the State Department of Health’s Certified Healthy Oklahoma Congregations program. He helped to write the manual for the State Department of Health that offers insight to congregations to develop their own health ministries.
“I was amazed at what this course has meant to me. I never expected it to be a defining moment in my spiritual experience and life…but it was.”
– Foundations Course Participant