Keeping the community healthy is the daily mission for the Parish Nurses and Community Health Outreach Nurses at Waukesha Memorial Hospital. Area churches, community agencies and schools work with the hospital to provide services that help prevent disease and promote better healthcare decisions. Parish
Nurses, in particular, work to combine the spiritual and medical dimensions of health care.
 
The Parish Nurses and Community Health Outreach Nurses are experienced registered nurses who serve as health educators, advisors and advocates for individuals and families in congregations, schools and other community sites. They help connect people who have health problems or concerns with the community and medical resources they need.
 
The programs and services these nurses provide differ to meet the unique needs of the people they serve. Parish Nurses are also specially trained to work within faith communities, focusing on strengthening the mind, body and spirit.

 You can rely on the Parish Nurses and Community Health Outreach Nurses for:

• Help with overcoming obstacles to getting the necessary health services, regardless of your age.
• Answers to questions or concerns about your health or the health of a family member.
• Identifying your own health challenges, and referring you to the right resources.
• Important health screenings such as blood pressure or weight.
• Learning about health information that's valuable to the community.
• Listening holistically to your physical, mental, emotional and spiritual well-being, assessing, counseling and referring as needed.

When you work with a Parish Nurse or Community Health Outreach Nurse, your rights are protected as if you were a patient. To honor you with the best possible service, we ask that you are responsible for:

• Cooperating in your own health care, and
• Providing accurate information.

Parish Nurses at First United Methodist Church
 
At First United Methodist Church the Parish Nurse is an employee of Waukesha Memorial Hospital with an equal salaried partnership with the Church, 50% being paid by each partner.  In the church setting, the Parish Nurse works as a member of the staff and pastoral team, partnering with pastors in the assessment, contacts and caring of parishioners, referring needs and people to each other.  The Nurse is also united with the Health Ministries team to meet the health and wellness goals of the congregation.

Our Parish Nurse also co-chairs the development of a Spiritual Care Delivery System at Waukesha Memorial Hospital and is developing the same system for the all of the ProHealth Care health system. The Parish Nurse also has community outreach responsibilities.  Each month she visits Saratoga Heights, a senior low income residence to do blood pressure screenings, evaluate medications, educate residents along with providing counseling, advocacy and referrals. The Nurse also facilitates an Obsessive Compulsive Disorder support group at First Church, the only one in Southeast Wisconsin.

Ongoing Ministries
 
There are specific and ongoing ministries to promote spiritual and physical fitness including:

• Annual Fall flu clinics, blood donor drives, community outreach carnival event with health booth, CPR and defibrillator classes, nutrition and/or exercise classes for 3 yr. to HS seniors, and Christmas health and wellness gifts for the congregation.
• Monthly educational bulletin boards addressing national health issues, and blood pressure screenings.
• Ongoing medical loan closet of equipment for use for parishioners and community alike.
• Ongoing literature rack related to grief and loss care issues. Teaming with other committees in programming events with participation and/or bringing in event/and or specific topic speakers.
• Weekly book studies related to healthy nutrition, weight and spirituality, specifically assessing and growing in the Christian faith and life-style changes.

Special events also carry the message including:

• Advance Directives and Plannings of Life and Death
• Usher and first responder training related to physical crises
• Cholesterol screenings
• Adult and children's health fairs
• Bike helmet, first aid safety and sales Sundays
• Disabilities awareness Sundays
• Worship participation and planning
• Nutrition & exercise classes (including yoga)

We have specific Health Ministries initiatives, including:

• Elizabeth Ministry: partnering persons to minister to the needs of new parenting, pregnancy issues and crises, adoption, grand parenting support and journeying with those women who have experienced mastectomies and hysterectomies. Ministries include gift packet, resources, meals, words, calls and visits of encouragement.
• Prayer Shawl Ministry: an active volunteer group who gather to knit, pray and deliver shawls to shut-ins and persons going through crises or grief and loss issues.
• Senior Ministry initiative requesting a new committee to meet the needs of seniors, resulting in ongoing educational, social and spiritual programming and visitation training for shut-ins.