Faith Community Nursing Program Embarks in Jefferson County

11 nurses and a physician from seven local parishes across Jefferson County recently participated in the Foundations of Faith Nursing program in partnership with Fort HealthCare and Rainbow Hospice. The Faith Community Nursing Program allows for the extension of health care into the community through the use of faith community nurses. In addition to medical care for their elderly populations, members of the congregations will also be able to receive the social and spiritual connections which can play a critical role in one’s health.

With this program, admissions to the hospital can be reduced, and stays decreased in length. The program can help identify those at high risk for admission to a hospital or nursing facility and then work to provide support and guidance to those patients, securing services such as home delivered meals, transportation support and health/nutritional education. They may also notify churches when their members are hospitalized in an effort to improve the transition from hospital to home.

Liz Collins, retired MSN and Faith Nurse from St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, states, “It’s wonderful to live in a community with such a progressive healthcare system that supports a program like Faith Community Nursing. I feel so grateful to have been a part of this first group, and I look forward seeing how it will grow and evolve in the future.”

Through a Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) grant, the Rock River Health Care Network (RRHCN) was able to provide a 10-week Foundations of Faith Community Nursing course to the nurses through the Wisconsin Nurses Association. The RRHCN is comprised of eight local organizations that have a long history of collaboration, and include Fort HealthCare (FHC), Greater Watertown Community Health Foundation, Jefferson County Health and Human Services Department, Rainbow Hospice, Rock River Community Clinic (RRCC), Watertown Health Department, and Watertown Regional Medical Center (WRMC). The grant also allowed for mental health first aid training, CPR and AED training, and bags for nurses to utilize to access patient needs that included equipment such as pulse oximeters, blood pressure cuffs, scales, and more.

Some of the nurses’ duties may include providing home and hospital visits or phone calls, providing blood pressure checks and other health screenings, providing health education and resources, and also acting as a referral source. The nurses may also provide links to existing support and health care programs, as well as promote preventative care to their entire congregation.

Shirley Brown, RN, BSN, has been a Faith Community Nurse for 23 years with Faith Community Church in Fort Atkinson. She comments, “The Faith Nurse ministry that I have within Faith Community Church has been a blessing as I minister to people through church, home, hospital, assisted living and other health visits where I help educate, refer, counsel and encourage.” Shirley even goes to some appointments with patients so that she can hear the information given at the appointment so nothing is missed.

Recently, the group of Faith Community Nurses had a dedication ceremony to recognize the accomplishments and celebrate the official start of the program. Britanie Peaslee, the Community Resource Liaison at Rainbow Hospice, and Coordinator for the Community Health Ministry Program, spoke at the ceremony. “We’ll be continuing to build relationships with each other, the congregations, and our communities. We’ll be working together to create a world where everyone has access to the care they need, regardless of their background or circumstances,” stated Peaslee.

As the HRSA grant time period comes to an end, this is just the start for the program. Starting at the end of June, Rainbow Hospice will lead this program into its next chapter. Rainbow will help provide ongoing training, host information sharing roundtables, provide supply support, train additional nurses, and more. Peaslee added at the end of the ceremony, “As we end this course, I want to take a moment to acknowledge the hard work and dedication that has brought us all here today. I want to thank each and every one of you for your commitment to this important work, and for your willingness to share your time and talents with our community. This just marks the first chapter in your journey of Faith Nursing.”

Front Row (left to right): Betty Cloute (Abiding Shepherd Lutheran Church, Fort Atkinson), Britanie Peaslee (Coordinator for the Community Health Ministry Program, Rainbow Hospice), Liz Collins (St. Peters Episcopal Church, Fort Atkinson), Jill Buss (St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, Fort Atkinson), Debra Floerke (St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, Fort Atkinson), and Terri Nelson (St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, Fort Atkinson).
Back Row (left to right): Shirley Brown (Faith Community Church, Fort Atkinson), Michele Ebben (Faith Community Church, Fort Atkinson), Dede Van Loenen (St. Bernard’s Catholic Church, Watertown), Christie Tooke (St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, Fort Atkinson), Maisie Allie (St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, Fort Atkinson), Mary Therese Rinzel (WI Nurses Association Instructor), and Bill Cannon, MD (St. Peters Episcopal Church, Fort Atkinson).
Back Row (left to right): Shirley Brown (Faith Community Church, Fort Atkinson), Michele Ebben (Faith Community Church, Fort Atkinson), Dede Van Loenen (St. Bernard’s Catholic Church, Watertown), Christie Tooke (St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, Fort Atkinson), Maisie Allie (St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, Fort Atkinson), Mary Therese Rinzel (WI Nurses Association Instructor), and Bill Cannon, MD (St. Peters Episcopal Church, Fort Atkinson).