Faith Community Nursing Service is Ephraim McDowell Health's collaboration with nurses in faith communities throughout the region that  help them create faith community nursing programs or health ministries in their congregations. It is open to congregations of all faiths and sizes.

Faith community nursing and health ministries promote individual, family and community health in body, mind and spirit, addressing the healthcare needs of a congregation through a spiritual aspect that addresses the wholeness of the person.

* What are faith community nurses?
* What services and programs are provided by the Faith Community Nursing Service?
* Who are members of the Faith Community Nursing Service staff?

 

What are faith community nurses?
Faith community nurses are registered nurses and people of faith trained to provide specific services, such as regular blood pressure screenings and how to educate congregations. They do not diagnose or treat illnesses, do not dispense medications and are not members of any clergy.

Their roles include:

* educating people about improving health, with an emphasis on wellness and prevention
* acting as health advocates
* serving as counselors, promoting an understanding of the relationship between faith and health
* acting as visitation advocates and volunteer coordinators

What services and programs are provided by the Faith Community Nursing Service?

Services

* Education and consultations to congregations about starting a faith community nursing service
* Assisting congregations with interviewing and selecting their own faith community nurses
* Preparing nurses for the role of faith community nurse
* Training for health ministry teams
* Providing access to the Health Ministry Resource Library at Ephraim McDowell Regional Medical Center
* Providing education programs on topics of interest to the congregations or ministry teams

Educational Programs

* Stress management
* Healthy lifestyle
* Exercise
* Disease Management
* Osteoporosis
* Hypertension
* Diabetes
* Managing chronic illness
* Alzheimer's
* Maintaining a healthy heart
* Breast cancer
* Preventing colon cancer
* Depression
* Recognizing substance abuse
* Recognizing abuse
* Community resources
* Advance directives
* Health screenings
* How to make a health visit

Who are members of the Faith Community Nursing Service staff?

* Terry Casey, R.N., M.S.N., A.R.N.P., F.C.N., who is certified as a family nurse practitioner and Faith Community Nurse. Her experience includes providing education for professionals, communities and individuals regarding emergency and immediate care, wellness and preventive health issues.
* Rosalie Albright, R.N.-B.C., M.S.N., C.N.S., A.R.N.P., F.C.N., who is trained as a psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner and certified as a Faith Community Nurse. Her experience includes providing community education and working with geriatric and Alzheimer's patients, mental health patients and families as well as acute and chronically-ill patients. She has also provided information on community resources to patients and families.
* Audrey Lee Powell, R.N., M.S.N., F.C.N., who is trained as an adult critical care nurse, nursing administrator and Faith Community Nurse. Her experience includes cardiovascular nursing, nursing administration and community education related to emergency preparedness and health risk behaviors.

For more information about the Faith Community Nursing Service, please call (859)239-1603.