Parish Nurse

The Parish Nurse, with knowledge of science and humanities, community nursing, social psychology and pastoral care can assist those in need of healing. The Parish Nurse can also convey the parish's concern for its parishioner's health and wellness. As part of our faith community the parish nurse works with the pastor and a volunteer health cabinet in a variety of roles:

• Personal health counselor
• Health and wellness educator
• Coordinator for community referrals
• Developer of group and volunteer programs
• Interpreter of the relationship between faith and health

In everyday experience, the parish nurse is from the faith community and understands the beliefs and religious practices, understands the importance of confidentiality and privacy with health matters, shares expertise and concern in a meaningful, nonthreatening setting and encourages the congregation to lead healthy life styles--embracing the gift God has given to us.

The goals of the program are to fulfill Sacred Heart's mission statement, define our parish as supportive of holistic health and to motivate individuals to fulfill the gospel call for stewardship, health and service to others and ourselves. For more information, continue below, or pick-up a brochure in the church atrium.

---

The Parish Nurse Ministry is a form of healing designed to build and strengthen our capacities as individuals, families and faith communities. The program enhances our well being and helps us to understand and care for ourselves and one another in our relationship with God. The ministry emphasizes prevention of illness and maintenance of health, the wholeness of mind, body and spirit. Nursing has its roots in early Christianity when it was intertwined with deacons and deaconesses, monks and nuns, working together to care for the sick in the church community.
The Parish Nurse concept was developed by Dr. Granger Westburg of Illinois in 1983. Dr. Westburg was a clergyman in medical schools and in teaching and research hospitals. He felt scientific medicine was neglecting the relationship between spiritual well being and physical health. As a result, he identified the Parish Nurse as a bridge between the faith and medical communities. Since then, the Parish Nurse Ministries have flourished throughout the country. Sacred Heart's Ministry is a member of the Griffin Hospital Valley Parish Nurse Program, one of the largest in the state.

What is Holistic Health?
Health is a dynamic process that embodies our spiritual, psychological and social dimension all acting in harmony to give us a state of wellness and well being or holistic health - wholeness of mind, body and spirit. When one of these dimensions is not in harmony with the others a condition called disease, or more accurately dis-ease exists and we are not living in the state of optimal health that God gave us.

What is the role of the Parish Nurse?
The Parish Nurse, with knowledge of science and humanities, community nursing, social psychology and pastoral care can assist those in need of healing. The Parish Nurse can also convey the parish's concern for its parishioner's health and wellness. As part of our faith community the parish nurse works with the pastor and a volunteer health cabinet in a variety of roles:

• Personal health counselor
  
• Health and wellness educator
  
• Coordinator for community referrals
  
• Developer of group and volunteer programs
  
• Interpreter of the relationship between faith and health
  

In everyday experience, the parish nurse is from the faith community and understands the beliefs and religious practices, understands the importance of confidentiality and privacy with health matters, shares expertise and concern in a meaningful, nonthreatening setting and encourages the congregation to lead healthy life styles--embracing the gift God has given to us.

The goals of the program are to fulfill Sacred Heart's mission statement, define our parish as supportive of holistic health and to motivate individuals to fulfill the gospel call for stewardship, health and service to others and ourselves.

A program to help you
Here are a few of the ways the Parish Nurse can help you.

• Understand better what your doctor is telling you if you are confused by medical terminology or overwhelmed by your circumstances
• Unravel and negotiate the maze of our countries health care system and health insurance
• Explain how your body works to keep you well and how you can maintain good health
• Identify health risks
• Explain the importance of your medications and how they work
• Explain diagnostic tests
• Outline proper nutritional needs
• Visit you in the hospital or at home
• Identify support groups that can help address specific needs
• Listen and care for your concerns

If you have concerns or needs other than those listed here please contact the Parish Nurse for more information.
Also, blood pressure screenings are held once a month after mass. See the weekly bulletin for more information.