Spotlight on
Caregiving: Parish Nurse
by Marjory Lenox
"Life is a canvas; paint it well" says the magnet in the office of Lois Slocum, Parish Nurse at Christ UMC in an upscale Pittsburgh suburb. The canvas of a caring ministry has been designed and painted beautifully these past three years.
"There are so many complex issues, I could work eight days a week," observes Slocum. "Caregiving is a huge issue; health care is so fragmented. I believe we're making such a difference."
She first became aware of parish nursing in graduate school for her masters' degree in case management (gerontology). With her church staff's encouragement, she formed a task force to define the job and the needs. "It's a marriage of my spirituality and professional and administrative backgrounds. It feels so right," she says.
Parish nursing and pastoral care complement each other. She works closely with the minister, but her job is more hands-on. After medical diagnoses, "I can talk to members and make suggestions with my knowledge of health care."
Years of hospital nursing supervision give her an insider's understanding of patient advocacy, insurance and Medicaid needs, and access to assisted living — although it's not just a ministry to the infirm. Health ministries — wellness classes and a Health Fair, including various screenings, education about diseases, and exercise encouragement — meet the needs of body, mind, and spirit throughout the continuum of life. Slocum organizes two support groups: a special worship service for shut-ins and, paired with a local hospital, Kid Shape — a program for overweight children.
Helping people care for the bodies God gave them, nurses use Sunday blood pressure monitoring as teaching moments and, during Lent, a 6000-mile "Walk to Jerusalem" had 205 people walking 7000 miles.
Slocum relies heavily on the help of others: 42 volunteers, including nurses for blood pressure monitoring and home visits, caregivers providing respite care, transportation teams for doctor visits, an education team to discern focus and possible classes, newsletter editor, exercise class leader, and meal coordinator. The amount of caring and hands-on help is phenomenal. The parish nurse program is painting a detailed, caring picture on Christ UMC's canvas.
For more information, contact: Lois Slocum, Parish Nurse, Christ UMC, Bethel Park, PA; 412-855-6621; loisslocumcumc@hotmail.com.