Nurses use professional skills as gift to parish
By RENEE WEBB
Globe associate editor
Posted May 9, 2002

Parishioners at Sacred Heart Church in Sioux City have grown accustomed to the convenience and availability of having their blood pressure checked once a month between Sunday Masses.

The blood pressure screenings are one of the main gifts two parish nurses have offered on a regular basis as part of their parish nurse ministry. The women follow the American Heart Association's guidelines for doctor follow-ups or rechecks.

"We've actually seen people start on treatments or have their treatments adjusted based on our blood pressure screenings," said Debbie McCalla, parish nurse.

McCalla and Debbie Bond, registered nurses, are Sacred Heart's two official parish nurses who have been commissioned by the pastor, Father Bruce Lawler, for the ministry. In addition, the parish has a health cabinet that includes four other RNs and doctors.

The health cabinet at the parish recently organized a health fair that was held in conjunction with a parish dinner. Bond thought up the idea as she offered a similar fair for students at Briar Cliff University as the institution's former director of health services.

The parish fair, they noted, was well received.

"People were interested. They spent time looking at the different displays and asking questions. We had several parishioners thank us for making it happen," said McCalla.

Several information booths were setup at the fair. Parishioners had the option to receive information on such things as organ donation, men's health issues, and breast cancer awareness among other women's health issues.

Mercy Medical Center, St. Luke's Regional Medical Center, the Alzheimer's Association, Senior Center and Cancer Center were among the organizations represented. Members of Sacred Heart's health cabinet provided blood pressure checks and one healthcare professional was on hand for vision screenings.

The parish nurses estimated that between 200-300 people visited the health fair.

"We wanted to have something for everyone," said McCalla. "As far as pediatrics and children's information, we provided safety pamphlets. We tried to offer information that people would find helpful and interesting."

Julie Walding, pastoral minister at Sacred Heart, sees value in the parish nurse ministry. She approached her parish council about the ministry in the fall of 1999 after attending a meeting on health ministry at Mercy Medical Center. Bond served on the parish council at the time and took off on the ministry with the help of McCalla.

Looking at it from a holistic point of view, Walding said nurses have special gifts to offer the parish as part of the health component. She believes the nurses can work collaboratively with other parish ministries such as the BeFriender Program and the senior ministry.

Along with the monthly blood pressure screenings, the nurses often use their professional gifts to inform parishioners about assorted health topics via the parish bulletin. They also include information relating to community health care events such as free colon cancer screenings. In addition, the two keep up a bulletin board where they provide additional information and brochures on assorted topics.

The women are also available to answer any health-related questions, however, they were quick to point out that their role is not to replace a doctor's care. In many cases they act as a referral service of sorts, directing fellow parishioners to various organizations or guiding them to the proper healthcare professional.

According to Bond, the information has enlightened many people to the fact that it okay to take care of their bodies. It is better to be healthy in order to take care of others and is not matter of being vain. She cited the Scripture passage, 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 referring to your body as a temple of the Holy Spirit.

"As a nurse and a member of our Catholic community, there is no better way for me to give back to the community," said McCalla. "I strongly believe that this is our duty. If we have a talent, then it is our obligation to share it with others. Each one of us has something different to offer."

Bond added that nurses as a whole tend to be giving people and when they see people in need they tend to reach out.

"I think the parish is a good place to start," she said. "I think it is very rewarding - especially the hands-on work like the blood pressure screening."