Parish nurses are a growing ministry in the Episcopal and other churches. The Grand Haven Tribune, in Michigan, reports on how a local college is supporting education of nurse to serve in this ministry.
While many churches have had nurses as volunteers for years and years, a Calvin College church nursing program encourages nurses to create staff positions in their congregations. Since the Parish Nurse Basic Preparation Program began in 2003, 113 registered nurses have gone through the 36-hour course.
Suzan Couzens said her organization, the Grand Rapids Area Health Ministry Consortium, now works with close to 50 parish nurses compared with just seven in 2002.
“In our health care system, the need is increasing for nurses to be in churches,” she said. “The system is complicated, resources becoming less and less, and the church is being asked to step up more and more — and they’re not prepared.”
Ferrysburg Community Church Pastor Nate Visker said unpaid nurses organize blood pressure checks and host a flu shot clinic each year.
“I don’t even watch the medical dramas, so I have no medical knowledge,” he said. “These ladies are both (registered nurses), so they can answer medical questions that would be dangerous for me to address.”
Other tasks taken on by parish nurses include initiating health programs and education, calling on the elderly, developing support groups, and sometimes acting as patient advocates, according to Calvin College professor Bethany Gordon.
“Health is often related to body, mind and spirit, and I think we’re in a unique position as the church where we can look at this as holistic health,” Gordon said. “In everything we do, we are looking at integrating our faith with our health.”
Karen Nisja from St. John’s Episcopal Church in Grand Haven … went through the Calvin College program. … people are starting to become more aware in what a valuable role it can play in church ministry. It really does follow the model of Jesus in healing.
National Episcopal Health Ministries offers support, training and sharing of resources to congregation and parish nurse programs. Click here for more information.