Parish Nurse Program

Caring Health Professionals
Serving Our Faith Community

Mission Statement

We, as people of faith and guided by the belief in the dignity of human life, seek to promote the physical, emotional, and spiritual well being of the community of St. Patrick – St. Anthony Parish.

What is a Health Ministry?

The Health Ministry focuses on healing and health.  It encourages whole-person health through: Body, mind, and spirit integration - Increased self-knowledge - Personal responsibility -
Interdependence among God’s people

Who provides the services?

Registered Nurses (Parish Nurses), volunteers who are parishioners of St. Patrick – St. Anthony church, and other unpaid professionals.

What is a “Parish Nurse”?

A Parish Nurse is a Registered Nurse who delivers primary preventive nursing to parishioners with the purpose of assisting members to achieve and maintain optimal physical, emotional, and spiritual health.

What can Parish Nurses do?

Parish Nurses facilitate the healing mission of the Church in a confidential and professional manner through the following roles:

• Health Educator
  Provide programs and screenings with a focus on maintaining wellness
  Establish a resource library
  
  
• Health Counselor
  Provide limited, confidential health counseling
  
  
• Health Referral Source
  Liaison to community resources

• Integrator of Faith and Wellness
  Promote an understanding of the relationship between faith and healing

Are there any things that Parish Nurses can’t do?

Parish Nurses:

• Do not provide hands-on-nursing care
• Do not dispense medication
• Do not replace health care providers

To obtain current medical information, online searches can be conducted through the St. Francis Hospital Health Learning Center . This is a valuable resource for accurate information on healthcare matters. Please visit the Health Learning Center online today.

Check your Blood Pressure!

Hypertenision (high blood pressure), if left untreated, can damage the body’s blood vessels. Organs that do not receive the correct amount of oxygenated blood can also be damaged. This can result in kidney disease, heart attack, stroke or loss of vision.

Unlike arthritis, hypertension does not always “show” itself. Occasionally people may complain of headaches and dizziness. The most effective way to detect hypertension is to have regular blood pressure checks.

With “primary” hypertension, there is no known contributing cause. It may be due to narrowing of arteries, a greater volume of blood being pumped through your arteries or your heart beating faster than normal.

“Secondary” hypertension is due to disease or illness, and can be treated. There are risk factors that predispose one to having hypertension, such as a family history, obesity, age, history of smoking, a high cholesterol level, a diet high in fat and salt, a high alcohol intake and little or no exercise. You can’t change your family history, but you do have control over the other “predispositions”.

The Heart Truth’s Ten Commandments for a Healthy Heart

1. Know your risk factors for heart disease.
2. Talk to your doctor about reducing your risk of heart disease.
3. Have your blood pressure checked regularly. Next screening at church: February 18.
4. Know your cholesterol numbers.
5. Have your blood sugar level checked for diabetes.
6. Do not smoke cigarettes or use other tobacco products.
7. Eat for your heart health.
8. Get regular physical activity (at least 30 minutes of moderate physical activity on most or all days of the week).
9. Aim for a healthy weight.
10. Know the signs and symptoms of a heart attack and the importance of seeking medical help immediately.