September 09, 2004
Genesis VNA And St. Ambrose University Offer The Health Ministry/Parish Nurse Preparation Program
Davenport, IA - Genesis Visiting Nurse Association's Health Ministry Department in conjunction with the St. Ambrose University's Department of Nursing is offering a Health Ministry/Parish Nurse Preparation Program.
This five-day program, held over a five-month period, helps prepare a nurse for the roles of a parish nurse. It includes information related to how to start a health ministry, components of a health ministry, and legal and budgeting issues. Faculty includes RNs with Parish Nurse experience, nursing faculty, and hospital chaplains.
Classes are on the following dates; 5:45 – 9 p.m. on Friday, October 22 and from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Saturday October 23, November 20, January 22, February 26 and March 19, 2005.
Faith can have a profound impact on health, according to Judy Greiman, R.N., coordinator for Genesis VNA's Health Ministry Nursing Program. She is a parish nurse at Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Davenport. "People know me, they're comfortable with me, and I've got the time to give them," Greiman says. "I can go to their house, sit down and talk, or hold their hand. We can pray together which is a major function of parish nurses."
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 while bringing home the importance of spirituality and healing. "In fact, it's where it all began many years ago." Greiman adds. Health ministry nurses are not direct hands-on providers. They are not there to administer medication or take the place of a community health nurse or a physician. They are an advocate, the spiritual link, the referral base, the health counselor and the resource person.
For more information about the Health Ministry/Parish Nurse Preparation Program, call St. Ambrose University at 563-333-6064, Monday through Friday between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. or e-mail the university's nursing program at nursing@sau.edu.
