The overall goal of this ministry is to promote the physical, mental, social and spiritual health of St. Mary Queen of the Missions parishioners.   Research indicates that this goal can  be more fully accomplished through interventions that occur in an atmosphere of loving and caring acceptance.  The church as one of the consistent focal points in parishioners' lives is an ideal place for these interventions to occur.

This goal will be realized through the activities of parish nurse(s) in conjunctin with parish council and a health ministry team.   The parish nurse ministry combines nursing and mininstry to help individuals of all ages.   The parish nurse works closely with the pastor, the deacons and the key leadership of the parish, offering an informed and empathetic presence to parishioners as they struggle with issues that threaten their well-being.   This initiative will be facilitated intially by the organizing parish nurse who will report to the pastor of the parish or his delegate.   This parish nurse will dedicate .25 FTE per week to this initiative and will intiate the following types of activites. 

Activities of the St. Mary Queen of the Missions Parish Nurse(s) will include:

• Informational Classes - preparation for surgery, nutrition, weight control, chronic disease management, stress reduction, parenting (4 activities per year) 

1. Stress Reduction
2. Meditation - Mindfulness and Centering to Prayer
3. Chronic Diseases - How can I handle them?

• Immunization initiatives/programs such as flu, pneumonia, childhood mmunizations  (activities per year)

1. Flu Clinic
2. Coffee Talks - Are Childhood Immunizations safe?  About adult immunizations - are they safe?

• Safety Information

1. Bulletin information  - on heat safety, sports safety, fireworks safety

• Screenings

1. Blood Pressure - 2 per year
2. Body Mass Index - 1 per year
3. Blood Sugar - 1 per  year
4. Glo - Germ

• Bulletin Information

1. Include weekly or monthly bulletin announcements with safety information and/or healthy living activities.

• Spiritual care

1. Support through prayer
2. Presence - as desired by the clergy or the patient
3. Visitation with parishioners for physical and spiritual needs in their homes, nursing homes or hospital as desired by the pastor, priests or deacons
4. Grief care through individual attention or use of support groups
5. Socialization activites such as support groups or activity groups

• Collaboration

1. Partnership agreement with Mount Carmel Church Partnership
2. Referrals to clergy, social services, health care professionals, community services and other services of the parish
3. Assessments of member/community needs
4. Development of new services/resources for memebers or the neighboring communities as needed
5. Establishment of relationships with other faith communities

• Individual

1. Client advocacy for health care, end of life issues, spiritual concerns, etc. 
2. Client education regarding chronic health issues such as diabetes, cardiac issues, care giving issues
3. Health counseling related to interpretation of plan of care, mediction regime, etc.