Faith Community Nurses
What You Should Know
The St. John's Health Ministry is made up of a core of professional nurses, (RNs) who are actively licensed. The term Parish Nurse that is often used is familiar to members of the parish; however, the newer term is Faith Community Nurse (FCN) because many other religious congregations with nursing services do not use the term parish. We want parishioners to now recognize that we are Faith Community Nurses, the same nurses who have been serving Saint John's Cathedral.
FCNs operate under The Scope and Practice Standards published by the American Nurses Association (2011). This document uses the preferred title, Faith Community Nurse. Many of the nurses at Saint John's work full time in health care facilities. They dedicate their available time to activities that focus on improving one's health of mind, body, and spirit as they strive to create a healing presence in the parish. FCNs welcome other health care professionals and persons interested in helping us to join this ministry.
The roles of FCNs focus on a person's health as: health assessor, educator, referral agent, counselor, advocate, and health care visitor to parishioners who are ill or have health needs in their homes, hospitals, nursing homes, and assisted living facilities. FCNs do not provide basic care and do not perform invasive care such as injections and wound care. (Our limited liability coverage does not include this type of care and we do not compete with other health paid providers who do provide invasive care.)
The administrative and coordinating organization for FCNs in the Treasure Valley is Saint Alphonsus Regional Medical Center. A nurse coordinator at the hospital is responsible for: keeping all FCNs informed of any changes, providing current information and continuing education, and offering the 30-hour Basic Preparation course that all nurses must take to continue as an FCN. The coordinator also maintains contact with the International Parish Nurse Resource Center, a key organization for educating FCNs nation-wide.
Why you should think about joining our Health Ministry
Providing preventive health services to parishioners, helping them to understand their chronic disease(s), alerting them to needed resources and showing you care about their health has many professional and personal rewards. The Health Ministry is an opportunity for caring people who want others to be healthy to share the skills and gifts God has bestowed on them to prevent illness, control chronic disease, and provide support to those who might not receive it anywhere else. This caring person could be you!
The Health Committee
As part of the Health Ministry, this committee is comprised of health care professionals who work in the community. Members of the Health Committee join us to help with our activities when they can. We welcome people who are in the health care field who have an interest in our activities.
How To Get Started In the Health Ministry
For contact information, call the parish office, 208-342-3511.
Resources
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