Parish Nurse Stories

Parish Nurse Stories From Around the State

The following stories come from Parish Nurses and Health Ministers who attended the April 11-13, 2008 Parish Nurse and Health Minister Retreat.

A Tribute to Mary Munger by Lynne Maierle
St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Helena

We invited all nurses in Helena, parish nurses, active nurses, and retired nurses to an evening to celebrate Mary Munger. We used the DVD sponsored by Carroll and the Montana Nurses Association to celebrate Mary as an outstanding nursing leader in our parish, our town, our state and our nation. Mary wrote the bylaws and mission statement for the Parish Nursing Program at St. Mary’s. It was an evening to enjoy each other and learn abut the “Blue Eyed Nurses’ Bill” which Mary lobbied for in the Montana legislature as the former director of the MNA. We talked about the Power of One and the Power of Many to allow nurses in Montana to have collective bargaining rights for the first time.

This DVD is available from the Montana Nurses Association and the Carroll College Nursing Program. It is a 20-minute history of the legislative process in the 1960s. Our nursing schools in Montana are now using this film in their leadership classes.

Kitchen Ministry by Cathy Hoyem
Absarokee Congregational Church

A branch of our Caring Ministry includes a new “Kitchen Ministry” that gathers to prepare food for shut-ins or those who have had surgery. Our freezer contains meals that are augmented by fresh breads and desserts when needed. The group also fed the fencing crew that has come from the Mennonite Church in Pennsylvania to help our community after the Derby Fire. Miles of fences have been replaced with their help, and they have been nourished by the food prepared by our Kitchen Ministry and their encouragement to involve other members of the community.

A Growing Parish Nurse Ministry by Marylou Colvin
Anaconda Catholic Communities

At Anaconda Catholic Communities we have developed a Parish Health Ministry with two parish nurses, one other RN, a layperson, the Grief-Funeral Coordinator, the Liaison to Committee and Parish Staff, and the coordinator of Hospital/Home Visits. We have two more nurses interested in helping with parish nursing. We meet monthly and discuss our visits, the families who need to be visited—especially as a referral to the parish nurses. We also plan two months ahead for health awareness/education projects. The following list shows some of the programs we have done this year:

*
Poison Prevention and Awareness of all poisons in the home with the assistance of the Poison Prevention Center in Denver

*
Awareness of Signs and Symptoms of Colorectal Cancer, Testicular Cancer and Prostate Cancer with assistance from the American Cancer Society in Spokane

*
Low impact aerobic exercise class (1.5 hour twice a week) with 7-17 people attending. This spring the group will become a walking group “Through the Park.”

*
We do weekly blood pressure screening from 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. every Wednesday at the Anaconda Thrift Store with 18-30 readings

*
Counseling awareness and education to persons with hypertension

*
Flu Shot Clinics in coordinating with Public Health Department in October/November

*
Plan to do a May Awareness of Alcoholism, especially among the youth, with assistance from Mirah’s Challenge and Mirah’s father as our speaker (open to the community)

*
In June 55 Alive Drivers’ Class with Gordon Steele, a local trainer.

*
We work with local agencies to refer and also getting referrals for Adult Protection Service, Home Health Agency, the Social Director of the Anaconda Hospital and the Social Director of the Anaconda Convalescent Hospital.

*
We plan to start blood pressure screening at the Food Bank and hopefully in the fall start a journaling or writing group.

It sounds as if we are very busy, but I found God provides the helpers from our parish to help when it is needed.

Helping Those Without Health Insurance - Bonnie Hash
Bozeman United Methodist Church

A nurse on duty with our Faith Health Ministry Program noted that the young woman seemed to be having some health problems, a bad cough, etc. She took her aside to check her lungs, etc. She immediately wrote up a recommendation for care at the local hospital, explaining that with this note our church would help cover costs the woman couldn't cover. She did go for help. Later we received a “thank you” from her family for saving her life—she had been in intensive care for 10 days but was doing well now.

People with low-income don’t feel safe going for medical care they can’t afford—will they really get the care others with money or insurance receive?

"Shape Up American" Program by Ann Schellinger
Christ the King Catholic Church, Missoula

For team building and wellness, the staff at Christ the King is participating in “Shape Up Montana.” Everyone has a pedometer and daily writes the number of steps they walk each day. Although this is a three-month program, we plan to continue walking. It helps the individuals realize their progress and also serves as encouragement.

Church Health Fair by Bev Jacobs
Christ Lutheran, Libby

We had a church Health Fair (Libby has an all town Health Fair also). We had approximately ten tables, everything from height and weight, dental, immunizations, health club exercising and pastoral counseling. It was very well received. Great turn out. This was the first one we’ve had, but are hoping to have one each year.

A Rewarding Experience by Mary Ann Burt
St. Francis of Assisi Parish, Hamilton

I am not a parish nurse, but went to a home with a nurse as she did her nursing with family members. I prayed and visited with the sick lady and we found it very rewarding working together! We went once a week for about two months until the woman passed away—a very rewarding experience.

Filling a Community Need by Nancy Gerike
Zion Lutheran Church, Glendive

I am getting into the health ministry for the first time. At our church we have a furniture room that takes in good used furniture and dishes, and people in need from the community come and get items. It has been a godsend to the community. There is no charge to get items from the furniture room.

Rejuvenating a Women's Fellowship Group by Lynn Bolin
Plymouth Congregational Church, Helena

Although I have had to back off for a while, our Tai Chi class continues. We have also rejuvenated our Women’s Fellowship. We have grown to 17-18 women and meet twice a month. Once a month is a devotional discussion group and the second meeting is a luncheon.

Beverly DeVine
St. Francis of Assisi, Hamilton

Our parish is growing and so is our Health and Wellness Ministry. We are fortunate to have new RN volunteers joining our program. Some of the year’s highlights:

1.
Active prayer shawl ministry

2.
St. Guard Ministry, which supports new mothers and their families with meals, support, visits, etc.

3.
Blood pressure screenings 1-2/month

4.
Nursing students from MSU at the Missoula UM campus – They are assigned individual families in the parish to follow for a semester, focusing on community health.

5.
Sponsored a flu shot clinic at our parish

6.
Home, hospital, nursing home visits and telephone calls with our focus on spiritual support, health education and as a referral source.

7.
Perinatal Memorial Service planned for May 4. Our focus is for grief support for any individual who has experienced a loss prenatally or up to a year after birth.

Top of Page

Updated: May 27, 2008
By: Parish Nurse Center Administrator

	*	Poison Prevention and Awareness of all poisons in the home with the assistance of the Poison Prevention Center in Denver
	*	Awareness of Signs and Symptoms of Colorectal Cancer, Testicular Cancer and Prostate Cancer with assistance from the American Cancer Society in Spokane
	*	Low impact aerobic exercise class (1.5 hour twice a week) with 7-17 people attending. This spring the group will become a walking group “Through the Park.”
	*	We do weekly blood pressure screening from 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. every Wednesday at the Anaconda Thrift Store with 18-30 readings
	*	Counseling awareness and education to persons with hypertension
	*	Flu Shot Clinics in coordinating with Public Health Department in October/November
	*	Plan to do a May Awareness of Alcoholism, especially among the youth, with assistance from Mirah’s Challenge and Mirah’s father as our speaker (open to the community)
	*	In June 55 Alive Drivers’ Class with Gordon Steele, a local trainer.
	*	We work with local agencies to refer and also getting referrals for Adult Protection Service, Home Health Agency, the Social Director of the Anaconda Hospital and the Social Director of the Anaconda Convalescent Hospital.
	*	We plan to start blood pressure screening at the Food Bank and hopefully in the fall start a journaling or writing group.

	1.	Active prayer shawl ministry
	2.	St. Guard Ministry, which supports new mothers and their families with meals, support, visits, etc.
	3.	Blood pressure screenings 1-2/month
	4.	Nursing students from MSU at the Missoula UM campus – They are assigned individual families in the parish to follow for a semester, focusing on community health.
	5.	Sponsored a flu shot clinic at our parish
	6.	Home, hospital, nursing home visits and telephone calls with our focus on spiritual support, health education and as a referral source.
	7.	Perinatal Memorial Service planned for May 4. Our focus is for grief support for any individual who has experienced a loss prenatally or up to a year after birth.