The role of the Parish Nurse is multi faceted…I often describe is as someone who connects the dots and helps folks sort out the meaning of health and illness. The parish nurse provides individualized care taking into consideration, the physical, emotional and spiritual well being of the person. Some of the specific roles that at parish nurse plays are:
■ Health educator (helping someone understand their diagnosis and medical plan of care) ■ Group health education classes as requested
■ Resource person (helping connect the dots to various services and levels of care)
■ Health Counselor (helping the individual to sort out the meaning of illness)
■ Advocate for the individual (assisting a person in understanding what to ask the doctor or the pharmacist or other health care provider)
■ Spiritual guide ( assisting the individual to sort out where their faith journey fits into their wellness-illness continuum) This is done in conjunction with the Pastor
■ Organize and implement screening clinics such as flu or blood pressure
While the focus is often on an individual, the entire family of that individual is considered in all deliberationsWhile the focus is often on the senior population, the parish nurse also helps new Moms with adjustment to babies, counsels on child rearing issues and provides education for all ages including adolescents as they deal with their own growth patterns.
BSN and MSN in Nursing. Sonja has a varied nursing career including administration, public health, consulting, teaching and developing major health care programs in various settings. She is remembered in this community for her leadership in developing the local health department into a district health department and for her collaborative efforts to educate the public in what public health is all about.
Sonja has been a parish nurse for 10 years and has been a faculty resource for teaching the basic parish nurse course. She also was a key member of the National Task Force that updated the National Faith Community Nursing Standards of Practice (2005).
The parish nurse can be reached at 308 384 2900 or simpsonrl@charter.net
