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Do Parish Nurse ministries make a difference? You bet!
Deborah Carney, RN, Punta Gorda, Fla.
 Deborah Carney, RN, Parish Nurse During my six years as parish nurse at Burnt Store Presbyterian Church, I had the opportunity to “stand on holy ground” and touch many lives. Parish nursing and health ministries change lives of our congregation, one person at a time. This was evident with our program, “Diabetes in the New Millennium.” It began as a monthly teaching program about diabetes. It evolved into a support/education program. Diabetes is the fourth leading cause of death in the United States and is growing at an alarming rate. Diabetes is labeled an epidemic and is out of control due to the alarming high rate of obesity.
I soon found out the best teachers were the ones with this chronic disease. Often a participant would bring in foods low in carbohydrates that the class could sample. There were new recipes, computer tracking programs, but best of all were the testimonies “that diabetes is surmountable.” One member told us his physician said, “Bob, you have a deadly disease … but if you do the right things, you can live a long life.” Now that gets your attention! I might not be able to tell someone in the class to lose weight but a friend in the support group could give that advice to another. The members in the group were encouraged and spurred-on to follow those individuals who always had low Hemoglobin A1c’s, the gold standard for blood sugars.
Every other month we were blessed to have Jan Smith, RN, speak to our group. She is the Diabetic Educator from our local hospital. Jan was invaluable as she talked to us about diet, traveling, sickness, flu shots, medications, taking responsibility for our own healthcare and so much more. Her favorite line was, “If I see you in the grocery store, you should be able to tell me your Hemoglobin A1c number.” Jan took the daily tasks of a diabetic and made them easy to understand.
I frequently reminded new class members of the recommendation from the State of Florida for 10 hours of formal education with a Diabetic Educator soon after the diagnosis of diabetes is made. This is one disease in which prevention has a big payoff and government hardily agrees.
We would advertise the classes in our local newspaper, thus we often had community involvement. More than once a class participant would say, “My doctor never told me any of this information.” Once a man showed up for class on the wrong week, so I spent some time talking with him about his diabetes. He told me he had frequent low blood sugars and had passed out. I encouraged him to call his doctor right away, told him how to get a lifesaving Medic-Alert bracelet, and also instructed him as to how he could get a free needle disposal box. He went home with some printed materials to read.
We were blessed to have BethAnne Algie, a Nurse Pedorthist, come to speak to our class. As a certified diabetes shoe fitter and a critical care nurse who witnessed many amputations, her goal is “Zero amputations in Charlotte County.” BethAnne educated the class on proper foot inspection, foot care, buying proper shoes and more. She wowed us with her enthusiasm and information and continues to offer support anytime free of charge.
A man called me to say his blood sugars were on the borderline for diabetes. “What should I do to prevent diabetes?” he asked. He came into my office and we worked out a program to exercise, lose weight and eat low carbohydrates. Thankfully, he has lowered his blood sugar to a normal level and lost 30 lbs!
This is but one program among many that promotes “Life in all its abundance!”
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