Today, Parish Nurses are committed to bringing together the disciplines of science and religion and to transferring these skills to the community of faith. The Parish Nurse Program encourages congregations to provide a church health ministry to the whole person, body, mind, and spirit.
Bethany's participation in the International Parish Nurse Program, coordinated through Three Rivers Community Hospital and Asante, began in the spring of 1997. Blood pressure monitoring was offered and two seminars were presented: Women's Health and Directive to Physicians. Early in 1998, the congregation filled out a Health Needs Assessment Survey. That form showed that we shared most commonly, in order, health problems of Hypertension, Arthritis, Depression, Heart Disease, Hearing and Visual Disturbances and Cancer. In April, the Health Ministries Board met to discuss what you indicated would help you deal with these problems. Three seminars were presented during the following months: Walking for Exercise, Chair Exercises and a four-part mini-course on Depression and Grief. Blood pressure monitoring continued to be offered on Sunday and Tuesday mornings as well as at the May Breakfast and the Christmas Boutique. During the year, a total of nearly 390 blood pressures were taken, representing routine monitoring for approximately 20 parishioners and random monitoring for 30 more. Health questions were addressed and recommendations and referrals made when indicated. Other services offered were phone visits, home and nursing home visits, and transportation to doctor's appointments. When appropriate, the Parish Nurse, Bethany Helpers, Visitors and the Pastors coordinated to provide for members in need. To be better able to serve you, Three Rivers and Asante provide monthly support group meetings and frequent educational opportunities for the Parish Nurse.
Parish Nurses functions include:
- Health Education
- Personal Health Counseling
- Teaching and Coordinating of Volunteers
- Liaison with Community Health and Support Resources.
Parish Nurse
Scott Hover - 479-7653 or 659-4523
Visit the International Parish Nurse site http://www.advocatehealth.com/system/about/community/faith/advpnurs.html
Visit Northwest Parish Nurse Ministries read their newsletter
More information
What is Parish Nursing?
Philosophy
of Parish Nursing
Parish nursing is an emerging area of specialized
professional nursing practice distinguished by the
following characteristics:
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Parish nursing practice holds the spiritual dimension to be central to the practice. It also encompasses the physical, psychological and social dimensions of nursing practice. |
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The parish nurse role balances: knowledge and skill; the sciences, theology and humanities; service and worship; and nursing care with pastoral care functions. The historic roots of the role are intertwined with those of monks and nuns, deacons and deaconesses, church nurses, traditional healers, and the nursing profession itself. |
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The focus of practice is the faith community and its ministry. The parish nurse in collaboration with the pastoral staff and congregational members participates in the ongoing transformation of the faith community into a source of health and healing. Through partnership with other community health resources, parish nursing fosters new and creative responses to health concerns. |
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Parish nursing services are designed to build on and strengthen capacities of individuals, families, and congregations to understand and care for one another in light of their relationship to God, faith traditions, themselves, and the broader society. The practice holds that all persons are sacred and must be treated with respect and dignity. In response to this belief, the parish nurse assists and empowers individuals to become more active partners in the management of their personal health resources. |
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The parish nurse understands health to be a dynamic process which embodies the spiritual, psychological, physical and social dimensions of the person. Spiritual health is central to well-being and influences a person's entire being. Therefore, a sense of well-being and illness may occur simultaneously. Healing may exist in the absence of cure. |
Parish Nurses must take responsibility for their own professional development. However, the structure and content of lifelong professional development opportunities should meet both their immediate and future professional goals.