MARCH/APRIL 2021
New Faith Community Nurse Program Supports the Optimal Health of All Parishioners
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hen we think of nurses, we may likely think of those working at our local hospital or clinic. They are there to help us or a family member in their time of need. In fact, year after year, nurses are named as one of the most trusted professions in the United States. And here in our Families in Faith community, we are blessed Jeanette Walsh Joan Bauer Kaye Day with a new ministry through which nurses help and guide parishioners with holistic health needs. Jeanette Walsh, Joan Bauer, and Kaye Day are serving our three parishes as Faith Community Nurses, or parish nurses. All three women serve or have served as lay nurses and were recently trained online through the CHI Health Faith Community Health Network. The 45-hour training program was free through CHI Health, and the services the women offer are also free. Faith Community Nurses are recognized by the American Nurses Association, and they have access to a wide network of Faith Community Nurse support in Omaha. Jeanette recently retired from a long nursing career in Lincoln and had been dreaming of starting a ministry like this in her hometown of Greeley. As she researched, she asked her sister-in-law, Joan, to get involved. She also asked Kaye, so that each parish has a representative. Joan and Kaye both work in the nursing field. “We are blessed in our communities,” Jeanette says. “There is a good support system, and people are always happy to help. I want to make that more vibrant and help those who don’t know who to ask.” “We are very blessed to live in our rural communities,” Kaye says. “It is a beautiful moment to be able to witness all the good things we can do to help each other. Because our communities do not always have access to the opportunities in bigger cities, the Parish Nurse Network can be a good resource to help.” continued on page 5
