Parish nurses assist with congregations' health needs

Jo Ann Kirby

May 2, 2009 (McClatchy-Tribune Regional News delivered by Newstex) -- When senior citizens at Central United Methodist Church in Stockton had questions about Medicare Part D prescription drug coverage, the parish nurse organized a series of speakers to address the issue. At Quail Lakes Baptist Church, two nurses may assist ministers in visiting those recently hospitalized, homebound or in a care home. Parish nurses at Annunciation Cathedral can provide information, education and even just a listening ear.

Whether a member of a faith community's paid staff or in a volunteer capacity, parish nurses tend to the health needs of a church with education, resources and even something as seemingly simple as a blood-pressure check.

"I'm basically in charge of health education for the congregation," said Martha Shuemake, an assistant nurse manager at Kaiser Permanente in Modesto and a volunteer parish nurse at Central United Methodist. "We also have a health ministry team and we work together to be helpful."

According to the International Parish Nurse Resource Center, the parish nurse is a specialty of the nursing profession, which combines science, caring and theology to enhance the health status of those they serve. Parish nursing is recognized by the American Nursing Association as Faith Community Nursing.

In Stockton, the field has the support of St. Joesph's Medical Center through its Parish Nurse Ministry program -- a partnership between St. Joseph's Medical Center, local faith communities and registered nurses who are called to serve as ministers of healing in their congregations. It is an ecumenical model, recognizing a diversity of belief systems. The program offers participants a formal training program that defines the role of the parish nurse, professional nursing practice, the holistic approach of mind, body and spirit, and includes continuing education and support group sessions.

There are more than 40 parish nurses working in more than 30 faith communities throughout the Central Valley.

At Annunciation Cathedral, Rev. John Armistead said the three parish nurses provide health screenings, flu shots, blood pressure checks and education.

Shuemake said she was inspired to fill the role by Central United Methodist's former parish nurse, the late Joanne Buck, and Dixie Evans, who retired recently as director of community health at St. Joesph's Medical Center.

"The parish nurse program at St. Joe's started in 1996 with three parish nurses -- one from Central Methodist, one from Quail Lakes Baptist Church and one from St. Andrew's Lutheran," Evans said. "The idea was first launched in the Chicago area when a Lutheran hospital chaplain thought it would be helpful."

Evans said the primary focus of a parish nurse isn't to give shot, change a bandage or make a diagnosis.

"Health promotion, health education, advocacy, resource and referral is what the parish nurse provides," she said. "It is an established practice with some very clear guidelines. It works very well across denominations. We have them in the Catholic parishes, in Baptist, Methodist and Lutheran churches, and there are other faiths that are very interested."

Two parish nurses, Anita Porter and LaVeda Thompson, volunteer to serve the community of Quail Lakes Baptist Church, where they recently were in charge of administering blood pressure checks at the church health fair in April.

"We have a cancer support group that meets, we do hospital visits, flu clinics in the fall," Porter said. "Mainly we are available to people if they have questions."

Most area congregations with parish nurses are large churches where parish nurses say they hope to be helpful and informative to fellow church members and lighten the load for their ministers.

Rev. Lee Nelson of the Church of St. John the Evangelist in Stockton, which does not have a parish nurse, said health issues he encounters in his congregation include counseling on end-of-life questions or long-term care decisions, visitation and even acting as an advocate for fairness involving medical billing disputes.

And he is happy to help, he said, because it is part of his calling to offer pastoral care during hospital stays or illness and to provide comfort and prayer for those grieving or facing a death in their family.

For parish nurses, the profession is also referred to as a calling.

"Of all the things I worked on, this was one of the most rewarding on a personal basis, because these nurses were just so giving. They really felt they had a calling," Evans said. "They all feel this is really a way that they could give back to their church."

At St. Joesph's, Pat Collier has taken over the position of director of home health and community services. Collier, who wrote her master's thesis on parish nursing, said a new nurse has signed up for the parish nursing program as the tradition continues.

"It's a very holistic approach to health," she said. "It's all about wellness."

Contact reporter Jo Ann Kirby at (209) 546-8256 or jkirby@recordnet.com.

Newstex ID: 34608040