Kelly Ebbett and Karen Watson Click photo for a larger image

Update on Wilmot's Parish Nurse Ministry
January 29, 2012

Kelly Ebbett RN BN and Karen Watson RN BN would like to thank you for supporting us in this opportunity to explore a Health and Healing Ministry within our Wilmot community. As we begin with the practicum component of our Parish Nursing Course, we thought this was a good time to provide some background for you as well as a progress report.

First then, a little background.

Parish Nursing has been a growing specialty within nursing since the early 1980s; the movement began in the United States, in the Lutheran Church, and subsequently spread to Canada throughout the 1990s. In 2002, The United Church of Canada considered a proposal requesting the inclusion of Parish Nursing as a recognized aspect of ministry within the United Church. Since that time certain United Churches across Canada have integrated this role into their ministry.

Currently, in New Brunswick, there are eight parish nurses. The New Brunswick Parish Nursing Ministries is a member of Canadian Association for Parish Nursing Ministry.

Why Parish Nursing?

The nursing role within a faith community is intended to support and strengthen the spiritual, physical and emotional well-being of individuals, families, the congregation and the community served by the church. Parish Nursing is a "ministry in partnership with the ministry staff", other pastoral care ministry, and the congregation which "seeks to transform the faith community into a place of health and healing." (Olson, J. and Clark, M., 1999, Exchange)

The vision for Parish Nursing is to assist the church to re-claim and redefine its interest and mission in health and healing. The Parish Nurse is not intended to take the place of healthcare services already in the system. Rather it is a community role that augments existing healthcare services.

So where are we in the process?

Last year, independent of each other, we both approached Rose-Hannah to explore the role of parish nursing within Wilmot and the opportunity to attend the upcoming course. Subsequently, we received the support of Session, the Pastoral Care Review Committee and the Board to proceed with the education which includes a practicum component.

We have completed one of two theory sessions of the Parish Nursing Course. We now begin our practicum which runs until August, 2012. This course requirement is 100 hours per nurse - approximately four hours each per week. We will return to the classroom in the fall for the 2nd theory session. During the practicum, we will meet regularly with Rose-Hannah and monthly with our mentors to check on our progress and provide us with spiritual and professional practice guidance. This is also a time of continuing discernment on our call to this ministry.

As we begin our practica, there is much planning and preparation, building of the structure, if you will, to support the role. These are some of the initial requirements of the practica. We have to establish an office space, ways for you to communicate with us, referral processes as well as ensure that several professional practice requirements are in place, for example, a documentation system and security of any health records that we must keep, and completing the required processes with the hospital for pastoral visiting.

As well, over the next couple of months we will be "Taking the Pulse" of the community and exploring with all of you what you hope to receive from this experience. We will be asking to meet with the many groups within the community so when we call on your group, please make time for us on your agenda. We will also want to talk to you as individuals to explore your thoughts. Please feel free to approach us with your thoughts on the role you think Parish Nursing should play within Wilmot.

Moving forward

We will be keeping you up to date on our progress. We anticipate being able to offer a Blood Pressure clinic sometime in March as a way to begin and for you to get to know us better. So keep an eye on the bulletin for further communications. And thank you once again for supporting us as we complete the practica requirements of the Parish Nursing Course.

We welcome your prayers of support and blessing.

Kelly Ebbett and Karen Watson

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