We’re starting something !!

Over the past year and a half Council has been investigating the possibilities of having a Parish Nursing Ministry here atMark St.

A short brochure is available here.

What does a Parish Nurse do?

The role of the Parish Nurse is to be an interpreter of the relationship between faith and health, to be a health educator, to be a personal health counselor, to be a referral agent and liaison with congregational and community resources, to be a health advocate and a multiplier of ministers: teacher of volunteers and developer of support groups.

A Parish Nurse is a registered nurse with specialized knowledge who is called to ministry and affirmed by a faith community to promote health, healing and wholeness.  The nurse is called by God to this special service. It is a step in one’s faith journey that brings the nurse to parish nursing ministry.

Here is a recap of what has been happening:

In Feb. 2010 D Woodruff attended a Parish Nursing information session atGraceUnitedChurch.

In April of that year, Council approved a general information night for interested members of the congregation with Bev. Templar, Parish Nurse from Grace United.

Throughout that summer there was an information board on Parish Nursing displayed in Friendship Hall for the congregation to read with facts about the Parish Nursing Ministry.

In August 2010, Bev Templar again came toMark St.and was our guest speaker at worship and talked about the importance of the Parish Nursing Ministry to congregations.

In Dec. Council approved the search for a Parish Nurse, setting aside money in the budget for partnering with Interchurch Health Ministries, education and travel for a possible candidate.

That budget was passed at our Congregational meeting at the end of Jan. 2011.

Gail Brimbecon, National Education director for Interchurch Health Ministries came as a guest speaker in March.  She was very well received by the congregation and made the importance of the role of the Parish Nurse tangible by her insights and examples.

In March a Health Committee was formed, the  members are:  Louise Ferren, David May, Carol Parnell, Julie Plummer, Shirley Post, Bob Root, Coralee Vass, Nancy Warrren and myself, we rolled up their sleeves and got down to work. We’ve worked hard during the summer to draft a job description, post the position, pick interview questions, pick an interview panel and do the interviewing.

All of this work has culminated in success with the selection of Janice Ross as Mark Sts. Parish Nurse Candidate.  Janice has been a member of this congregation for 35 yrs., first coming here as a teenager.  She has been nursing for 25 yrs. and is currently an ICU nurse educator at PRHC.  Janice has also achieved her Masters of Nursing.  As a Parish Nurse Candidate Janice will, over the next three years take the part time Parish Nurse Education Courses atEmmanuelCollegeinTorontoas well as doing practical learning in the congregation. She will be getting to know you all and will need your support and encouragement as she journeys toward attaining her Parish Nurse Certification.