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Parish Nurse

Faith Community Nurse Program is in partnership with Mercy and Unity Hospitals’ Faith Community Nurse Program. It provides support to individual and families in the area of health and healing. It combines faith and health care that benefits the (patients) parishioners, faith communities, and nurses. The parish nurse’s objective is the serve as a health care advocate for parishioners using basic nursing and faith knowledge to promote wellness of mind, body, and spirit. The emphasis is on the care of the person, recognizing there can be healing in the absence of a cure. To answer any questions or to start the process, please contact the parish nurse Emey Vaillancourt at 763-862-4351 or by email at evaillancourt@epiphanymn.org.

A Parish Nurse is a Registered Nurse who has completed a parish nurse preparation course endorsed by the American Nurses Association. They serve as health care advocates that use basic nursing and faith knowledge to promote wellness of mind, body, and spirit. Parish nurses appreciate the connection between mind, body, and spirit and place an emphasis on the care of the “person.” They recognize that there can be healing in the absence of a cure.
 
Functions of a Parish Nurse can include:

• Healthcare advocacy/counseling: provides coaching and tips on navigating the healthcare system. Discusses heath problems and makes home or hospital visits as needed. Upholds the dignity of the human person.
• Promotes integration of faith and health: Encourages spiritual health, prayer, and Sacraments as a central part of the healing process. Helps to assures that the “person” is not lost in the healthcare shuffle.
• Health education: provides 1:1 education and coordinates educational opportunities for broader groups as needed. May coordinate healthcare screening such as blood pressure screening after Mass.
• Referral agent: connects people with community, county, and parish resources.
  Coordinates/develops support groups
  Volunteer development: searches for others in the parish that can help and coordinate training as needed.

Common Misconceptions:
A parish nurse does not provide hands on care and does not replace homecare or clergy visits. Parish nurses will likely find more work for others rather than ease the workload.
 
Confidentiality:
Any information shared with a parish nurse is kept confidential. Written records must be kept for liability reasons and are kept in a locked drawer.
 
Where to Begin:
Contact Emey to assess your needs and formulate a plan. We will start with home/hospital visits (respond to needs as they arise), assist with the North Metro Grief support Coalition, and lay some ground work by connecting with existing groups in the parish (ECL, Support Groups, Pastoral Care Commission, Epiphany We Care, etc.).