We utilize speakers from Lourdes, The Broome County Office for Aging, The Broome County Council of Churches, the Mental Health Association and Catholic Charities. These organizations have been very supportive in helping with our program. The parish nurse may also do home or nursing home visits, prayer chains, or start a health library for the church. Some congregations have also started a lending closet for health care equipment. Sometimes the parish nurse is an extra resource for the pastor to access if health issues require attention.
Parish nurses are also available friendly professionals to talk with about health care issues.
A parish nurse may also seek a grant to help support other projects within the church. Lourdes supports the program by providing a coordinator to help congregations start and maintain parish nurse and health ministry programs. A two-hour Introduction to Parish Nurse Presentation can be given upon request for your congregation in addition to it being offered four times per year at Lourdes. Also, we offer many educational opportunities to learn about parish nursing and health ministry. Our most important goal is having a presence that helps remind people that health is wholeness, salvation and shalom.