Parish Nursing

Contact us!
info@peacelutheran.ns.ca
Date last modified: 5-15-01

What is Parish Nursing?

In ancient times churches were centres of health and healing as well as proclamation. The communities gathered together for wholeness in mind, body and soul (this is the original meaning of the word salvation). Parish Nursing is a return to that traditional role, and a professional response to the health care crisis in our country. By providing a congregationally-based source of preventative and restorative care, the parish nurse addresses health as a balance of our physical, emotional and spiritual dimensions. Faith and health are integrated through programs and services provided by the parish nurse, pastor and health board. If you have any questions or needs regarding your health care, the parish nurse can be an immediate, accessible and familiar face in an increasingly impersonal health care system.

Several existing programs will come under the Parish Nursing umbrella, to be supplemented by others to make Peace a centre for health and healing in our community:

• Therapeutic Touch clinics and home appointments
• Educational seminars on health issues
• Blood pressure and sugar checks
• Personal health counseling
• Heart Smart nutrition classes
• CPR and First Aid classes
• Parent & newborn support
• Breast feeding support
• Adult Day Program
• Care for care givers
• Grief counseling
• Visits to shut-ins
• Cancer support
• Fitness classes
• Teen programs

Kathryn Hayward and Kelly Bardua, together with a health board team, will provide the services of parish nursing. Kathryn is an R.N. at the IWK/Grace hospital, specializing in neonatal care, while Kelly is an R.N. at the Halifax Infirmary specializing in gastrointestinal, orthopedics and cardiac care. Their combined experience includes the following credentials:

• RTS Grief Counselor (for miscarriage, still birth or ectopic pregnancy)
• IBCLC (International Board of Certified Lactation Consultants)
• ACLS (Advanced Cardiac Life)
• NCAST (nurse child assessment tools)
• Suicide Intervention Counseling
• Certified CPR and Red Cross First Aid instructor
• 8 years experience with teens through Girl Guides Canada.
• Health Care Coordinator, Lutheran Camp Mush-a-Mush
• Therapeutic Touch Level 1
• BScn(c)