Parish Nursing
The Ministry of a Parish Nurse...Health and Healing
A little bit of history
Parish Nursing is not a new concept. In Jesus' time, ill people were actually cared
for by the church. Deaconesses were precursors to nurses. As time went on and medicine became more
scientific, the responsibility for care of the sick shifted from churches to hospitals and
healthcare professionals. In the late 1950's and early 1960's, Granger Westberg
(a now deceased Lutheran chaplain) resurrected the concept of the church caring for the ill.
Out of this effort the idea of Parish Nurses was formed.
So what is it?
The Parish Nurse ministry is a ministry of Christian service shaped by Christ's concern for all
aspects of the human condition. It is a ministry directed to the service of the whole person as God
has made us: body, mind and spirit. These components are linked together to make a whole person. The
healing ministry of Jesus was an integral part of his redemption: restoring the whole person to God.
He taught us that true healing is not to the body only or to the soul only, but to the whole person:
Body, mind and spirit. In this sense, a Parish Nurse looks at a person "wholistically". The decision
to add a Parish Nurse to the staff (in this case 10 years ago at Holy Cross) publicly recognizes
Christ\rquote s healing ministry as one of the gifts of the cross. The Parish Nurse ministry
provides another avenue to seek wholeness in Christ.
What does a Parish Nurse actually do?
 Our Parish Nurse is Pam Boehle-Silva. She is an RN with 20+ years of experience. She has been parish
nurse at Holy Cross for over 10 years and received her certificate in Parish Nursing from Concordia University,
Mequon in 1996.
The Parish Nurse brings a multi-pronged approach to the health and healing ministry in the
following roles:
- Health Educator - provides health and wellness information via classes, outside speakers,
newsletter articles. Also provides individual education by helping someone understand a diagnosis,
treatment plans, medications, and preventative care.
- Liaison to Community Resources - provides referrals to appropriate community agencies and
services. Stays abreast of what is available in our community by meeting with other parish nurses
and those connected with community services.
- Patient Advocate - provides assistance to people who are trying to wind through the maze of
the medical professionals, appointments, tests, diagnosis and treatments. The Parish Nurse may
accompany a person to a doctor's appointment, attend a hospital team meeting to discuss a
patient's plan of care, visit someone in the Emergency Room or sit with a family member in
the surgery waiting room. The Parish Nurse also assists people in filling out Advanced directives
and planning for future care.
- Spiritual Care Provider - provides devotions of comfort and encouragement through scripture and
prayer. This is a vital part of the Parish Nurse ministry. Works with the Pastors to provide
visitation of the sick, the shut-in and the hurting. These visits may be done in someone's home,
the hospital, the doctor's office, the lab, the ER, the skilled nursing facility at the
church.
- Coordinator of Volunteers - in conjunction with the Health Ministry team, works with volunteers to
coordinate meals, transportation, telephone calls, etc.
- Misc.
- New mom and baby program (visitation of all new moms and their infants to provide link
to Holy Cross, education and care).
- Monthly blood pressure screenings at Holy Cross. This has resulted in many people being referred
to the MD about high blood pressure. The parish nurse follows-up on those who are at risk.
- Grief work with those who have suffered loss through death, divorce, illness, etc.
How do I reach the Parish Nurse?
Typically, Pam is in her office on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays (Thursdays, by appointment). The phone
number is (916)624-2294. Your may also leave a confidential voicemail on this phone. She is also available on
Sundays before and after divine serivces. Her off days are Fridays and Saturdays.
Why would I call her?
- If you have questions about your health or healthcare including diagnosis, medications, treatment.\par
- If you need a referral to a community resource.
- If you need prayer and devotion.
- If you are sick.
- If you will be having surgery or a procedure.
- If you need help navigating the health care system.
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