Short interview for parish nurses. Please help!

[jaand]

I'm a nursing student and taking a Spirituality for Healthcare Providers class. We are to interview an individual who provides spiritual care in some way. I was wondering if you could answer a few questions. The interview is to help in writing a paper about improving spiritual care for patients and improving the patient's environment in order to promote their healing. The questions are below:

1. What is your name? If you do not want to give your name, please note "Anonymous."

2. Where do you work?

3. What is your position?

4. Explain the function, roles, and responsibilities of your position.

5. How do you provide spiritual care to a person who is experiencing an illness/injury? Please list a few examples.

5. How do you provide spiritual care for the family of a person who is experiencing an illness/injury?

6. How do you feel that you are able to enhance the healing environment for the person who is sick/injured and his/her family?

Thank you for any help!

[tnbutterfly - Mary, BSN]

1. What is your name?

Anonymous.

2. Where do you work?

Employed by a hospital, office is located in a church. Work in both of these settings as well as out in the community.

3. What is your position?

Parish Nurse

4. Explain the function, roles, and responsibilities of your position.

Although parish nurses share the common goal of integrating faith and health, no two congregational ministries function the same way. Each ministry is dependent upon the demographics and needs of the congregation. Typically, the roles of the parish nurse will include the following areas:

• Health Educator – raises the health awareness level and promotes healthy lifestyles within the congregation through a variety of formats, seminars, conferences, and classes.
  

• Personal Health Counselor – discusses personal health problems, recommends medical intervention, answers questions regarding medications and medical tests, offers blood pressure screenings, etc.
  

• Visitation Minister - visits in the home, hospital, nursing home.
  

• Referral Source - helps members obtain needed services from church or community agencies or support groups.
  

• Volunteer Coordinator – recruits, trains, and supervises volunteers to respond to physical, mental, and spiritual needs in the church.
  

• Client Advocate –intervenes for the patient as necessary in the hospital or office setting by talking to the nursing/medical staff.
  

5. How do you provide spiritual care to a person who is experiencing an illness/injury? Please list a few examples.

Pray with patient and family

Call chaplain/pastor

Talk about any fears, worries, concerns

Be present

Listen

Provide "safe" non-judgmental environment for them to talk about feelings such as anger

5. How do you provide spiritual care for the family of a person who is experiencing an illness/injury?

Same as above

6. How do you feel that you are able to enhance the healing environment for the person who is sick/injured and his/her family?

Help to provide holistic care - body, mind, and soul

Assess and address spiritual distress

[jaand]

Thank you so much for your help. I really appreciate your response.

[tnbutterfly - Mary, BSN]

You are welcome. :)

[BSNbeauty, BSN, RN]

1. What is your name? If you do not want to give your name, please note “Anonymous.”

2. Where do you work?-School nursing PRN, I do parish nursing at church as a volunteer,

3. What is your position? RN

4. Explain the function, roles, and responsibilities of your position. -Check vital signs, blood sugar as needed. Assist with health fairs and blood drives. Promote spiritual and physical health.

5. How do you provide spiritual care to a person who is experiencing an illness/injury? Please list a few examples. Offer prayer and support. Act within my scope during emergencies.

5. How do you provide spiritual care for the family of a person who is experiencing an illness/injury? Prayer.

6. How do you feel that you are able to enhance the healing environment for the person who is sick/injured and his/her family? Whenever there is an emergency or someone needs help I'm there. It feels good to be used by God to serve others.

Thank you for any help!