Linda Schoene, Parish Nurse
CTK began its intentional journey into health ministry four years ago with a
mission to integrate faith and health. As parish nurse, I am blessed to be a
part of this process. In January, I attended the Basic Parish Nurse Preparation
Course at the University of the Incarnate Word in San Antonio. The weeklong
program afforded the opportunity to examine my role, contemplate the impact
of health ministry and share thoughts and experiences with other nurses. Together
we examined the role of the parish nurse as health educator, advocate and coordinator
of support services. I returned to Houston with wealth of resources, a network
of new friends and a reminder of the joy of lifelong learning!
Parish Nursing continues to grow as a nursing specialty. It is a role that is defined by the gifts, needs and desires of both the nurse and the faith community. There is no cookie cutter model for health ministry. It is an ongoing program dedicated to the transformation of a faith community into a source of health and healing. Today’s healthcare arena is a challenging one. Health ministry assists by focusing on the whole person, recognizing the importance of spirituality and embracing the truth that healing can occur in the absence of a cure.
I am grateful to Council and the congregation for the opportunity to attend this program. I look forward to the continuing journey.