Alabama residents complete training in church, community-based care

Thirty-four Alabama residents are ready to begin parish nurse ministries in their churches and communities following completion of basic training last month at WorldSong camp and retreat center in Cook Springs east of Birmingham.
 
Alabama Woman’s Missionary Union (WMU) consultant Barbara Owen described parish nursing as a holistic concept of health care that is church or community-based. Owen said parish nurses may be employed by their churches or community agencies, or they may be volunteers.
   
The 37 hours of instruction in three sessions was sponsored by Alabama WMU, Baptist Health of Birmingham and the Ida V. Moffett School of Nursing at Samford University. Topics of instruction included roles of parish nurses, recruitment and teaching of volunteers, spiritual aspects of faith and health, prayer and worship, and health promotion.
  
“These parish nurses will help churches regain what I see as one of their major roles — to care for the physical and spiritual health of their congregations and the outside community,” said Randall Walton, director of pastoral care for Baptist Health in Birmingham. “Parish nurses and hospitals, working together, will increase access to adequate health care and promote health and healing in communities.”
   
Job descriptions vary according to needs, and ministries can be as simple as making regular visits to homebound residents or as challenging as teaching cardio pulmonary resuscitation (CPR) classes.
   
Owen assists Alabama Parish Nurse Coordinator Gretchen McDaniel, registered nurse and associate professor of nursing at Samford.
   
Receiving certificates for completion of basic training were nurses Sue Bobek, Florence; Shirley Bobo, Odenville; Nonnie Brust, Florence; Cathy Cameron, Moulton; Cyndi Cortes, Birmingham; James Davis, Dadeville; Deborah Duke, Springville; Kathy Grate, Homewood; Cristy Kennedy, Birmingham; Nenea Killen, Harvest; Pat Lacks, Scottsboro; Irene Lee, Rainbow City; Eila Maddox, Pinson; Elaine Marshall, Birmingham; Gail McCaffery, Enterprise; and Deborah Miller, Southside.
   
Others included Regina Mobbs, Trinity; Cathy Morton, Boaz; Debbie Moss, Birmingham; Suzanne Nickelson, Decatur; Tammy Noble, Cullman; Kaye O’Neal, Helena; Elizabeth Paramore, Birmingham; Rosetta Richards, Irondale; Martha Sherbert, Talladega; Rebecca Sloan, Gardendale; Allene Taylor, Gadsden; Ann Thomas, Birmingham; Jane Thomas, Skipperville; Tammy Tollison, Pell City; Norma Underwood, Muscle Shoals; Janis Ward, Madison; Kim Weiler, Gadsden; and Carla York, Huntsville.
   
For information about beginning a parish nurse ministry, call McDaniel at 205-870-2626 or Owen at 1-800-264-1225, ext. 228. McDaniel may be e-mailed at GSMC DANI@samford.edu. Owen’s e-mail address is bowen@alsbom.org. (WMU)