St. Francis of Assisi
St. Francis
Dracut, MA
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© 1996-2004
St. Francis Church
Dracut, MA

Parish Nurse Ministry
 

    St Francis Parish Nurse Ministry

 

 

What does a Parish Nurse do?

The Parish Nurse is a resource person who offers physical, emotional and spiritual care as:

A Personal Health Counselor...who discusses personal health issues and makes visits to homes, hospitals and nursing homes.

 A Health Educator...who offers health related classes, screenings and health fairs and information in bulletins

 A Referral Source...who assumes a liaison role in connecting parishioners to community resources and services.

A Volunteer Coordinator...who helps train and provide support for a parish volunteer corps.

 A Role Model...who promotes the relationship between faith and health.

 

 

We provide :

ª           Regularly scheduled BP Clinics and Health education seminars.

 

ª           A library of tapes and literature on health educational topics, coping techniques and relaxation and stress management.

 

 

 

HEALING AND CURING ARE NOT THE SAME

Doctors cure by giving you medicine, performing surgery, doing specific procedures to alter a condition of your body.

Healing means that YOU TAKE AN ACTIVE ROLE IN YOUR HEALTH.  It is important that you become  a partner with your doctor at all times.  Health does not merely mean the absence of disease.  It is more that physical well-being.  Health involves the whole person, body, mind, emotions, and spirit.  The first step to being healthy is taking responsibility to assess how you are doing and then, doing something about getting or staying healthy.

©        Bereavement Support Group is one service offered by the Parish Nurse Ministry.  First Monday of the month at 7:00 PM.

©        See Louise for details.

Know your state of health.  Take preventative measures to ward off disease.  Seek the help when it is needed.  Always remember that one area, whether physical, intellectual, emotional or spiritual, one affects the other-example:  High stress can be the trigger for a physical illness and visa versa, physical illness can cause increase in stress.  The way we think, our attitudes affect our health.  Our spiritual beliefs, faith, trust in God, love, prayer play a major role in our overall health and wellness.

 We all take turns needing help and giving help.  There is nothing shameful about being sick or asking for help.  We’re here for you.  Your confidentiality will be honored.  Please let us know what kind of services, workshops, support groups you would like in the parish. 

If you are an RN and would like information on becoming involved in this rewarding ministry, please  contact Louise Daigle or Sharon Coram.

 

Email questions to our Parish Nurses:
nurses@saintfrancis.net