Parish nursing is rooted in the Judeo-Christian tradition, consistent with the basic assumptions of all faiths that we care for self and others as an expression of God’s love. The concept was born out of the understanding of the healing ministry of the church and the need for the church to return to its once active role in promoting health.   Parish nursing is a unique, specialized practice of nursing that holds the spiritual dimension to be central to practice. A parish nurse focuses on the promotion of health within the context of the values, beliefs, and practices of a faith community, and incorporates into her practice the mission and ministry of the congregation she serves. A congregation forms a healing ministry as we walk beside each other through all of life’s joys and sorrows.   Our partnership with Centra Health affords our parish nurse, wellness team, and our congregation many benefits, from access to Centra’s resources, to the ideas and programs of other local congregational health ministries.   The Parish Nurse functions under the auspices of the Health Ministry Team. Our parish Nurse is Alice Bond, RN, FCN. The initials FCN stand for Faith Community Nurse, a more recent title for parish nurse.  Alice states she was called to parish nursing when it became a ministry of the Women’s Missionary Union of Virginia, a pioneer and early proponent of the ministry of parish nursing.   Roles of the Parish Nurse include:   ·         Personal Health Counselor ·         Health Educator ·         Referral Agent and Liaison with congregational and community resources ·         Facilitator of volunteers ·         Spiritual Companion in Health and Illness   When might you call on the Parish Nurse?   When you or a family member is discharged from the hospital and have questions about how to cope at home. When you are having difficulty dealing with a new or complex diagnosis. If your blood pressure readings have been high and you need them checked between visits to your physician. When a family member has a chronic illness and needs care in the home. When you have concerns about a family member and are not sure if they need to see their physician. When you have an idea for an educational program that you think the church would benefit from.  Bear in mind that a parish nurse is not a substitute for your regular health care provider, but rather, a supplement to him/her. Parish nursing is a return to the very roots of nursing, where the emphasis is on touch and caring, rather than technology.   The Wellness Team and Parish Nursing at FBC   The Wellness Team promotes the integration of all aspects of health: physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual, as it creates opportunities for church members in all phases of life to enhance their total health and well-being.   The WellnessTeam currently serving:                   Jean Burks, Chair                 Sarah Adams                 Beverly Dalton                 Dr. Randy Duffer                 Bonnie Finch                 Maurice Law                 Dugger Overby                 Donna Rosser   Alice Bond is the Parish Nurse at First Baptist. Alice earned a diploma in Nursing from Virginia Baptist Hospital, a Bachelor’s degree with double majors in Health Sciences and Religious Studies from Lynchburg College, and did post-graduate work at LC toward a degree in Guidance and Counseling. She held positions at both local hospitals in a variety of settings: critical care, staff and patient education, and case management. After retirement from the hospital setting, she took a preparatory course to become a parish nurse, and started the ministry at First Baptist in the fall of 2005. The ministry of the Wellness Team is supported by donations and a grant from the WC English Foundation. The position of Parish Nurse is part-time. Her practice includes hospital, nursing home, and home visits, and taking communion to those who wish it.   Alice has regular office hours on Monday from 9 AM til 3 PM, and is often in the office other times. She is available by appointment, and can be reached at home at 369-4140, by cell phone at 942-5474, or by email at alice.bond@att.net.   Health Related Internet Links   www.seniornavigator.org This website was created to help families find help on a wide variety of subjects related to the care of the senior population.   http://clergy.centrahealth.com/WebPages/conghlth.aspx Centra Health’s website has many items of local interest concerning health care in our area.   www.pcusa.org/nationalhealth This is the website of the Presbyterian Church, and it’s a marvelous, easy to use site to get valuable information on health and spirituality. The Presbyterians are great supporters of the healing ministry of congregations.   www.cancer.org This is the official site of the American Cancer Society, where accurate, current information about cancer can be found.   www.americanheart.org This is the American Heart Association’s official website.   www.diabetes.org This is the official website of the American Diabetes Association.   www.nhlbi.nih.gov This is the website of the National Institutes of Health, division of Heart, Lungs, Blood Institute. It covers a broad range of conditions, and is surprisingly easy to navigate. It has an especially good section on high blood pressure.   www.cdc.gov This is the site of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It too, covers a wide variety of conditions related to the spread of disease. Immunizations are a big part of the website.   Generally speaking, it’s best to get health-related information from the organization that does the research and advises the medical community, including your doctors, about the diagnosis and treatment of diseases. I have listed the websites that relate to the most common diseases reflected in our congregation. I have information in my office from all these organizations, and some experience in dealing with the above conditions, all of which I am happy to share.