Parish nursing gains ground in diocese
By Tavia Malone, Globe staff writer
Posted February 7, 2002

Parish nursing, or health ministry, is gaining ground in the diocese thanks to a program offered at Mercy Medical Center in Sioux City.

This ministry is an area that is evolving as the diocese goes forward as church into the next 100 years.

Barb Flynn, one of the coordinators of Mercy Medical Center's health organization site for parish nursing and health ministry, helps plan the program for churches around the city and area.

"It is a networking," said Flynn. "We work not only with parish nurses, but we also work with volunteer health ministers." Flynn helps educate and assist the parish nurses, as well as make health ministry easy.

A health ministry library is available for those parish nurses that need some extra information. "A lot of videos on how you become a parish nurse and things you can do are available," explained Flynn.

Mercy Medical Center in Sioux City has only been offering this program for the past year. It was developed upon request of parish nurses in Siouxland. "Iowa has been very active in parish nursing and has been the leader in health ministries," said Flynn.

Meetings are held once every other month at Mercy Medical Center for those interested in parish nursing, or for those who already have set up a parish nursing program. "We have had a very good response, even from the surrounding areas," said Flynn. "We really focus on spiritual, emotional and physical."

Mercy Medical and Briar Cliff University work together to promote parish nursing in the diocese. Ruth Daumer, head of Briar Cliff's nursing department, is a big part of health ministries.

"In general, parish nurses are involved in four different roles," said Daumer. These roles are health education, personal health counseling, coordinating volunteers and working as a liaison to the community.

"People see their church and faith as a resource," said Daumer. "This is a tangible, practical, hands-on way that makes ministry relevant to the people."

Debbie Bond and Deb McCulla both participate in parish nursing at Sacred Heart Church in Sioux City. Bond first became interested in parish nursing when someone on her parish council told her about the program.

"It just kind of evolved," said Bond. "

"I am a very strong believer in volunteering and church ministries that lay people can get involved with," said McCulla. "It is a fantastic program and really a perfect way for someone who is in the health field to be involved in health ministries."

The parish nursing program at Sacred Heart was an active part of the parish by January of 2001. "Basically, we've done a lot of preventative care and education," explained Bond.

There is a monthly health topic every month at Sacred Heart. Parishioners can learn more about the topic and can talk to the parish nurses about it.

Sacred Heart also offers monthly blood pressure screenings and the parish nurses, such as Bond and McCulla are available to talk to about any concerns or problems.

Bond cited Corinthians 6:19-20: Your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you...Therefore, glorify God in your body. "Parish nursing tries to deal with the whole person: mind, body and soul," said Bond. "If someone is able to keep themselves healthy they can do more of God's work."

"This is what our church asks us to do, to give of ourselves in a way that uses the talents we've been given from God," said McCulla.