Parish Nursing

Parish Nursing Ministry brings the elements of physical, mental, emotional, social, and spiritual health into focus for the Church community. Its foundation is within the scriptures. The goal is to assist members and others to stay well, and to create a feeling of deeper caring throughout our church family.

PARISH NURSE

A Parish Nurse promotes 'whole person health' within the Faith Community. It is a specialty practice within the nursing profession and has, at its core, intentional spiritual care. The Parish Nurse is a skilled and experienced registered nurse who has training in Parish Nursing. Their practice is governed by the Provincial College of Nurses with its standards of practice nursing policies.

Generally a Parish Nurse does not give 'hands-on' care. The focus is more one of serving as a health counselor, educator, and advocate, and providing resources as needed. There is no typical Parish Nursing Ministry. Sensitive to the call of God to serve, a Parish Nurse advocates with compassion, mercy and care. In service to the Lord Jesus Christ the Parish Nurse works to establish helping relationships that are professional and spiritually focused.

The Parish Nurse partners with community healthcare persons and resources. Through 1:1 contact and relevant and meaningful 'health-focused' education opportunities, members increase their understanding of holistic health promotion and disease prevention across the age span.

ACTIVITIES OF THE PARISH NURSE

The Health Cabinet, with the Parish Nurse, plan, implement, and promote health-related ministries within the church community.  The goal is to be a vibrant ministry for health and wholeness that equips individuals and families to be dynamic agents, demonstrating God's love for their church community and the community at large.

A Circle With Eight Sections

1)      Screening: blood pressure, blood glucose

2)      Health-focused bulletin boards

3)      Bent.on.health (Newsletter)

4)      Ministry Teams: meal provision, visitation of shut-in members

5)      Visits to hospital and long-term care

6)      Educate/empower persons and families to manage their  health care

7)      Comfort, support, encourage with scripture and prayer

8)      Promotion of Health & Safety for all ages

Every person is sacred, made in God's image, and ought to be treated with loving respect and dignity. Using Jesus as the model, Parish Nurses use their professional skills, and knowledge, spiritual gifts and abilities, to facilitate and promote wholeness and health within our Benton church family.

Job 4:3b, Strengthen weak hands. Help the tottering to stand and strengthen feeble knees.

Health Education Opportunities 

1) February's Health and Wellness Day is Thursday, February 16

Overcoming the February Blahs

Presenter: Pastor Jim Reese

A fun-filled interactive afternoon that everyone can enjoy in the Reese Room

2) Eye Health

Take the first step to protecting your eyes by eating a diet full of a variety of fruits, vegetables, including antioxidant-rich berries, citrus, and carotenoid-loaded orange and dark green vegetables. Other protective measures include wearing sunglasses outdoors to protect against UV damage, and maintaining a healthy weight to prevent diabetes.

A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity;  an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty. 

(Winston Churchill)

Monthly 'Bite of Health' 

1) Join us for the weekly exercise class in the Benton gym. Every Wednesday morning at 10 am, seniors gather for exercise guided by a professional.

2) Blood Pressure Screening Clinic ipen to all who attend 50 Plus gatherings. 

Bent.on.Health

For more information, email Gail Noble at [email protected].