They come from diverse backgrounds. Your
FCN may come from the surgical or neonatal area of a hospital, or be
working in the community as a health care provider.
Faith Community Nursing Coordinator: Margie Kreitler, MS RN
If you are interested in joining FCN or wish to speak with us about a
health issue, please contact the First Church Office by phone or by
e-mail.
All information shared with us will be kept confidential unless you
present issues that indicate you are a danger to yourself or others.
Why
Faith Community Nurses?
When Christianity began, the church was a major
influence in all dimensions of life, looking after people's emotional
and physical needs as well as their spiritual concerns.
Over the years, health care became the domain of the
medical community. But in recent years, we have become more aware of the
powerful connection between a person's physical condition, mental state
and spiritual well-being. Hence the concept of "whole person health
care."
Having Faith Community Nurses (parish nurses) as part of a congregation's
ministry integrates this idea of "whole person health care" into the
church.
Qualifications of a
Faith Community Nurse:
-
Registered nurse currently licensed in the State of Connecticut.
- At
least five years nursing experience.
-
Knowledge of the sacramental and spiritual life
of the church.
-
Experience in teaching and health counseling.
-
Knowledge and practice of whole person health philosophy.
-
Ability to work with highly diverse types of individuals and groups.
For further
information or to
contact a Faith Community Nurse,
please leave a message at the Church office (633-4641).
Faith Community Nursing
Annual Report
The Faith Community Nursing (FCN) Program
at First Church has four nurses involved in illness prevention
activities this year with an emphasis on whole person health, realizing
the important connection between our body, mind and spirit. The
philosophy of the program is primary prevention, or offering knowledge
and resources to people before illness comes into their lives. Our focus
is on wellness. The Nurses currently a part of the program are Sarah
Betts, Charlene Dann, Margie Kreitler and Charlotte Mowry. We wish to
thank Melissa Clair for helping us during Breast Cancer Awareness Month
We offered four educational programs this
year. The first, in the fall, was entitled Healthy Living: A Healthy
You. Information was provided on toxic substances in our homes, what
we eat, cleaning products, air fresheners, aerosol containers and skin
products. Our experts were Tina Clarke, Director for Clean Water Action
in CT and MA; and Dr. Helen Pulnick, who holds a Masters in Nutrition
and is a Naturopathic Physician and a Registered Pharmacist. During
Lent, we offered two programs on Advanced Directives. The first was a
discussion entitled Spiritual Dimensions of End of Life Decisions
led by our Senior Pastor David Taylor, Physicians Assistant and church
member John McNab, and Bonnie McKenzie, a Clinical Nurse Specialist with
VNA Hospice. During the discussion, The 5 Wishes Program was
introduced to us by Bonnie. A follow up to this event, Getting Your
Ducks in a Row was offered during the daytime. This provided an
opportunity for members to learn about funeral planning from Tom Mulryan
from Mulryan Funeral Home. Rev. Ruth Martz talked about the planning of
memorial services and receptions at the time of death. Attorney Sharon
Purtill, a member of our church, explained advanced directives. Glen
Berwick, also a member, talked about financial planning in later years.
This years’ final program offered by the FCN was Exercising Your Mind,
presented by Seabury Speakers’ Bureau.
The FCN offered Blood Pressure Screenings
about every month with four to six people taking advantage of the time
for screening of blood pressures, as well as the opportunity to ask and
discuss health issues.
We also participated in community events
by having representation on the town committee entitled Friends of
Hartford VNA, which serves Glastonbury as well as participating at the
FCN table at The Glastonbury Wellness Fair held in May.
The FCN Team promotes whole person
health, recognizing the connection of mind, body and spirit. Healing
services, held once a month, were led by Charlene Dann and Rev. Ruth
Martz. These services included prayer, song and Scripture, as well as
the opportunity to experience the laying on of hands and/or anointing
with oil. The average attendance was 7-10 people. Most services were
held at 7 p.m. in the Quiet Room; two services were held during the day.
April 23, Charlene Dann, Margie Kreitler,
Sarah Betts and Ruth Martz had the opportunity to attenda Parish Nurse
Symposium with keynote speaker, Rev. Kathleen Rusnak, Ph.D. The topic
was: "Exploring Inner Strength, Joy and Hope for Caregivers." Two
new CDs of lectures by Rev. Rusnak were purchased for the Church
library; 1) Loss, Grief, and Elder Care and 2) Before
they Forget: Maximizing the Spiritual Possibilities of Alzheimer’s.
Respectfully submitted by Margie Kreitler, Chair;
Charlene Dann and Sarah Betts
Faith Community Nurses
Charlotte Mowry
Margie Kreitler
Charlene Dann
Sarah Betts
SOURCE:
Annual Report for First Church of Christ, Congregational, Glastonbury,
Connecticut,
April 2008
