Parish nurses treating body and spirit

Rebecca Barnes and Virginia Adams are not the usual nurses one sees at the doctor's office or hospitals; they are parish nurses, focusing on a holistic treatment of body and spirit.

"Faith Community Nursing (most often known as Parish Nursing) has been deemed a specialty within nursing by the American Nurses Association since 1998," Director of Parish Nursing and Health Ministry at CMC NorthEast, Pam Hurley said.

The Parish Nursing Program at CMC NorthEast was developed in 1997; Currently, the program has 46 nurses, 10 are paid by the churches, and are considered CMC employees. The remaining 36 are volunteers. In the United States there are 12,000 parish nurses, but only about 35 percent are compensated for their ministry.

Parish nurses work from churches to promote health and wellness to the congregation and the surrounding community.

The International Parish Nurse Resource Center describes the duties of a parish nurse this way:

* H - Health Advisor.
* E - Educator on health issues.
* A - Advocate/resource person.
* L - Liaison to faith and community resources.
* T - Teacher of volunteers and developer of support groups.
* H - Healer of body, mind, and spirit, and community.

The program works to make sure nurses get the foundational training they need to run their ministry, which includes medical and spiritual services.

"Although it was founded on Judeo-Christian principles, any faith tradition may wish to establish a health ministry within their community as these principles are translatable," Hurley said.

Each church structures its own health ministry, and most nurses will have hours at the church. Usually, there is community outreach component as well, and home visits to nursing homes or hospitals.

"They act as an extension of the leadership pastoral team, and they are able to compliment what the pastor is doing," Hurley said.

Each church that has a parish nurse has an ongoing health committee known as the health cabinet. This is a way of involving the congregation in a healing ministry with each other. The health cabinet consists of a group of volunteers who have an interest in the relationship of religion and health.

The group of volunteers becomes a huge support for the parish nurse.

Big ELM Ministries Kannapolis Church of God

"We have a church that has a real heart for ministry," Barnes said.

The ministry is located in a small house on McKnight Street.

Barnes started the ministry at the Kannapolis Church of God three years ago with the idea that they would only do a health ministry portion, but it has grown since then.

"Especially with the economic downturn a lot of people are just looking for someone to help," Barnes said.

Part of her responsibility is to connect them with the resources available within the county.

"We do referrals; we actually don't do hands on nursing per se, but we do connect them with physicians, therapists, with counseling. There are also some financial resources available to us in the county," Barnes said.

There is a lending closet in the house that supplies wheelchairs, walkers and other medical needs.

"But the most important thing I do is listen," Barnes said. "I feel this is what I went into nursing for. I really have a heart for this ministry. I really feel like I'm doing something."

Her hours are long, but her dedication is clear as she helps other parish nurses set up their programs.

"I open up my office to any other parish nurses who need it," Barnes said.

Big Elm has created a grant fund that is offering churches who can't afford to begin a parish nurse ministry financial aid.

Start up cost can run over $2,000 Barnes explained.

The congregation and Rev. Sam Crisp are extremely supportive of the ministry, and the work it does in the community.

"God has blessed us," Barnes said.

First Missionary Baptist and First Congregational United Church

Adams works with two churches, First Missionary Baptist and First Congregational United Church of Christ in Concord.

Her ministry began in January.

It's made up of a mix of elderly, low and middle income people.

"You have to build a trust. I think we are slowly doing that by word of mouth, and hopefully by reputation," Adams said." People are skeptical."

They have a lot of people who come to the ministry without any healthcare.

"The people who come off the streets are from the community, not from our churches. The church wants me to take care of the community as well," Adams said.

Adams goes out into the community and networks with experts to help address the issues.

"I don't do all the teaching. I get experts in here, and speakers to help with the workshops," Adams said.

There is only money to pay Adams 20 hours a week; however, it isn't unusual for Adams to work over 50 hours in a week regardless of not being paid for the additional hours.

The money for the health ministry comes from a grant supplied by the Cannon Foundation, and in part from the church.

To become a parish nurse, you must go through six weeks of training. CMC NorthEast does two orientations, other parish nurses help, and you learn to network, Adams said.

"Building relationships is the key thing. It's the first thing I do. I pray to get wisdom," Adams said. "I do pray a lot."

She sees a very simple goal for her ministry.

"To tell before they get sick how to stay healthy," Adams said.

Contact reporter Robin L. Gardner: 704-789-9140.