By Anne Marie Amacher
Parish nurses strive to build upon taking care of the mind, body and spirit. To assist them, Genesis VNA and Hospice in Davenport is sponsoring a health ministry nursing training next month called Foundations in Faith Community Nursing Course.
The purpose of the training is to prepare registered nurses and/or health ministers to develop or participate in the healing ministry of a faith community, says Jennifer Hildebrand, coordinator for Genesis Health Ministry Nurse Program.
Registered nurses with a current license can care for the spirit as part of the process of promoting wholistic health. Retired nurses, licensed practical nurses, social workers, allied health professionals, clergy, chaplains and lay people can serve in the ministry of health and wholeness under the direction of a registered nurse in the faith community.
Hildebrand says the six-part training is March 6 from 6-9 p.m., March 7 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., March 8 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:40 p.m., March 20 from 6-9 p.m., March 21 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and March 22 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Training will be at Genesis Medical Center’s east campus in medical office building 2, lower-level conference room.
Courses cover spirituality, professionalism, wholistic health and community and are non-denominational.
Father Robert McAleer, pastor of St. John Vianney Parish in Bettendorf, plans to add a parish nurse position in July. With a change in pastor in July, Father James Vrba, the incoming pastor, has agreed to have the parish nurse program, said Fr. McAleer, who is retiring. It is possible the parish could have more than one parish nurse. Whatever the parish decides in terms of numbers, the position will be part-time and paid. The parish is offering scholarships for nurses who need to attend the training.
For more information about the parish nurse program at Genesis, contact Hildebrand at (563) 421-5513 or email at hildebr andje@genesishealth.com. Cost for Genesis employees is $200, for others, the cost is $225.
