April 01, 2002
Genesis Health Ministry Nursing Program Inducts First Class
The Genesis Health Ministry Nursing Program will commission 17 area nurses on Saturday, April 13, at 2:30 p.m., at Christ the King Chapel located on the campus of St. Ambrose University, 518 W. Locust Street, Davenport.
The nurses have completed the 36.5 continuing education units (CEU's) educational program through St. Ambrose University's Nursing and Pastoral Studies departments. The program is for RNs with an interest in using his or her health education and spiritual maturity to promote wellness of body, mind and spirit. The program has the approval of the Iowa Board of Nursing.
The focus of health ministry or parish nursing is the faith community and its ministry. The health ministry nurse, in collaboration with the pastoral staff and congregants, participates in the ongoing transformation of the faith community. "The goal is to integrate spirituality and health," says Sharon Meister, director of Genesis Visiting Nurse Association (VNA). "Health ministry nursing really brings home the importance of spirituality and healing. A health ministry nurse is not a direct hands-on provider. They are not there to administer medication or take the place of a community health nurse or a physician. They are an advocate, the referral base, the health counselor and the resource person."
Nurses being commissioned include: Marina Castel, Claudia Cox, Marlys Nacke, Sue O'Brien, Yolanda Ortel, Mary Savage, Gail Votroubek, Cheryl Wagner and Terry Wilkins all of Davenport. Maureen Gentry and Mary Keith of Bettendorf. Nancy Kleppe of Bennett, Iowa, Rosemary Knoebel of Maquoketa and Heather McCollough of Tipton. Moline's Kara Sisco and Sonya VanDeer of Stanwood, Iowa are also completing the program. Several area churches including Sacred Heart Cathedral, First Baptist Church, First Presbyterian Church, St. Paul Apostle Catholic Church, Our Lady of Victory, Holy Cross Lutheran and Metropolitan Community Church, all in Davenport, will welcome members of the first class, along with Trinity Lutheran in Tipton, Iowa, St. Joseph's Catholic Church in DeWitt and St. John Vianney in Bettendorf.
In an effort to increase the number of health ministry nurses in the Quad Cities, churches and faith communities wishing to provide a paid position may qualify for assistance. Genesis VNA will pay two-thirds of the nurse's salary the first year and one-third the second year. It may also provide the $500 fee needed for training.
For the next three years, the program will receive an additional $40,000 per year from the Genesis Health Services Foundation. A grant from the Great River Bend Area Agency on Aging was used for the education of two RNs in the Health Ministry Program at Concordia College in Moorhead, Minn.
For more information on the Genesis Health Ministry Nursing Program, call Judy Greiman at Genesis VNA, 563-421-5500.
