Thus begins one of Haldi's visits as a parish nurse for Central Lutheran Church, Spokane. Haldi is one of a growing number of health-care professionals who serve congregations in their spare time. Some churches have made it a paid position. Parish nursing has mushroomed since its beginning in 1984 to more than 4,000 churches. Mont. The founder of the Parish Nurse Center at Concordia College, Moorhead, Minn., she now teaches nursing at Carroll College, Helena, and works with Crist.
Parish nursing is needed because health-care has become less personal.
Haldi proposed the parish nurse idea to Central two years ago. They looked at how the parish nurse could reach out into the community. Parish nurses generally don't give direct treatment so much as they educate and act as patient advocates, referral sources and health counselors. Haldi has found a nurse can often gain an important rapport with parishioners. As representatives of the church and the medical profession, they bring a holistic approach to health problems.