Parish Nurse Program

The Parish Nurse program was originated by the St. Francis Medical Center. Recent financial problems at St. Francis made the medical center consider eliminating this program. The members of First Presbyterian Church felt the benefits to the members and community were so great that the congregation established funding to maintain the program through St. Francis. We are privileged that this program can continue as an outreach mission of the Church.

Parish Nurses use "LIFE" to empower people.

Listening and personal health counseling      
Integrating wellness of body, mind and spirit into health lifestyles
Facilitating health cabinets, volunteers and support groups
Educating, ongoing training and supporthhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

Prevention and education in healthcare are the wave of the future to keep healthcare costs down, to encourage people to make healthy lifestyle choices, and to extend and improve the quality of life. Instrumental to the success of Congregational Healthcare is the health cabinet committee established in each congregation to plan and oversee the program. The committee identifies the health needs of their congregation through a survey and interview process. They help design, implement and oversee the activities of this preventive, "wholistic" approach to healthcare. The Parish Nurse serves as a guide to he health cabinet and meets with them regularly to meet the needs of the congregation.

Parish Nurses are registered nurses who are committed to a personal relationship with God and integrate this spirituality whith their nursing practice. Parish Nurses work with their pastor?minister, the health ministry committee and the congregation in serveral ways. They become a member of the pastoral team to provide emotional and spiritual guidance to individuals and their families facing crisis situations and everyday problems.

Parish Nurses plan and implement health screening clinics and provide health education with assistance of volunteers.

Services include:

Health Education-classes, church newsletter articles, providing pamphlets and other educational resources

Personal Health Counseling & Resource Referrals

Recruitment and training of congregational volunteers

CPR Training
On Site Flu Shots
On Site Blood Drives            

Facilitating Health Screenings including the following:

Bood glucose testing
Cancer screening
Blood pressure screening
Health fairs
Hearing testing

 

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