Faith Community Nursing
WHAT IS PARISH NURSING?
The parish nurse role reclaims the historic roots of health and healing found in many religious traditions. The spiritual dimension is central to parish nursing practice. Personal spiritual formation is essential for the parish nurse. The practice holds that all persons are sacred and just be treated with respect and dignity. Compelled by these beliefs the parish nurse serves, advocating with compassion, mercy and justice. The parish nurse assists and supports individuals, families and communities in becoming more active partners in the stewardship of personal and community health resources.
The parish nurse understands health to be a dynamic process which embodies the spiritual, psychological, physical and social dimensions of the person. Spiritual health is central to well-being and influences a person’s entire being. A sense of well-being can exist in the presence of disease and healing can exist in the absence of cure.
The focus of practice is the faith community and its ministry. The parish nurse in collaboration with pastoral staff and the congregation participates in the ongoing transformation of the faith community into a source of health and healing. Through partnership with other community health resources, parish nursing fosters new and creative responses to health and wellness concerns.
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MEET OUR PARISH NURSE - Ellen Liebold
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Ellen has been a member of the Valencia Presbyterian Church since 1972. She lives in Valencia with her husband and has 3 daughters and 2 granddaughters. Ellen graduated from Butler Community College with an Associates Degree in Nursing and has worked at Allegheny General Hospital in Orthopedics and at the VA Pittsburgh Medical Center in Dialysis. Ellen visits with the shut-ins as well as those in the hospital, has planned various health related classes and flu shot clinics held at the church and offers blood pressure screenings the 2nd Sunday of each month following the worship service. |
If you have any questions or concerns for Ellen, she can be reached at the church office each Thursday from noon until 3 pm - 724-625-2002.