BODY MIND & SPIRIT
PARISH NURSE
Christy Hensell, RN, FCN
269-496-7925 / 269-535-1032
April Parish Nurses Notes
What the Heck is a Parish Nurse and Why the Heck do We Need One?
What does our parish nurse do?
H = Health Counselor - promotes understanding of the relationships between lifestle, attitude, faith and well-being.
E = Educator - supports and promotes health education among church members.
A = Advocate / Resource person - assists people to access and utilize existing community health resources.
L = Liaison to commnity services - progessiona link to community resources.
T = Teacher - organizes and presents workshops and support groups.
H = Healer of Body, Mind and Spirit - procolaims the mission of Jesus by sharing the Gospel of healing.
How can the parish nurse help you?
- Check your blood pressure and general health status.
- Refer you to an appropriate medical provider.
- Visit you in the hsopital or nursing home.
- Atend doctor visits with you, advocate for you with your physician, help you understand "medical-ease."
- Wait and pray with your family during surgery.
- Visit you in your home to assess your needs, to listen, support and to pray.
- Assist you to understand and organize your medications.
- Help you with your concersn of children, other family members, aging parents.
- Help you better understand your own health care needs.
- Arrange edcuation activities on health topics of interest.
- Refer you to the pastor for spiritual needs.
What the parish nurse will NOT do:
- Replace the pastor.
- Replace your regular health care provider or home health.
- Will not diagnose or prescribe.
"My vision for this ministry includes all of these things and right now, financial reality puts some limits on what I can provide. Currently, we do not have a budget for the parish nurse ministry and I am not always able to take time away from my paid job to provide these services. My mission is to serve this congreagation, with the help of God, to strive toward a balance of Spirit, Body and Mind, to faciliate your journey through this time, and to serve God by showing His love and care to each of you as He commanded."
