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About the Parish Nurse

The Parish Nurse Office is located in the Session Room at the bottom of the stairs. Office hours are every Friday's from 9:30 - 11:00AM. The parish nurse is also available any time of the week by contacting the church office. A Blood Pressure Clinic is held on the 3rd Sunday of the month after morning worship, while a Health Spot is presented the first Sunday of the month at Junior Worship. Check the bulletin board in the hallway leading to the office for timely health information. The parish nurse also writes an article, which contains pertinent health information, for the church newsletter.

  • What is the Parish Nurse Program?
    The Parish Nurse Program is a partnership between Trinity Regional Health Care System and Churches in the Quad Cities and surrounding region. It allows congregations to expand their healing ministries. The program takes a holistic approach to health care by promoting wellness in body, mind, and spirit. The goal of the Parish Nurse Program is to help individuals stay well and to create a feeling of deeper caring throughout the community. This is the third year Bettendorf Presbyterian Church has been involved in this program.

  • Who is a parish nurse and what are her responsibilities?
    Parish Nurses are persons of faith who are registered nurses and they have received special education in holistic health care. They promote wellness within the congregation. Parish nurses can provide personal health counseling, develop educational programs, link parishioners with community resources, assist with visits to the homebound and hospitalized, facilitate support groups, and interpret the relationship between faith and health. Parish nurses can also assist families in times of crisis and help provide continuity of care as people move through the health care system. The services offered by parish nurses are tailored to meet the needs of the congregation they serve. There is no fee for the care provided.

  • What makes one truly healthy?
    You might answer, “Not to be sick, to be well, or to be free of disease.” This could be true of any of us, yet we may still be unhealthy. Health encompasses more than just being free of disease. Each human being is a body, a soul, a mind, and is connected to others by relationships. We must have balance between all four parts or our entire being will be affected and we will not have health and wholeness.

    The Bible tells us in Luke 2:52 (RSV), "Jesus increased in wisdom (mind) and in stature (body), and in favor (in favorable relationship) with God and man, (with family and neighbors). So should we strive to have balance and to be in harmony with our body, mind, spirit, and in relationships. Then we will have total health and wellness!

Parish Nurse Newsletter

"The Flu" - Please Answer True or False

  1. The Flu is a respiratory illness.

  2. You can get the flu from the flu vaccine.

  3. Once you receive a flu shot, you are protected against all strains of the flue that season.

  4. You can catch the flu from droplets being dropped on an inanimate surface.

  5. If you have symptoms of the flu, you should stay at home, rest, drink plenty of fluids and avoid alcohol / tobacco.

  6. If you consult with your doctor within two days of developing flu symptoms, the doctor may be able to prescribe anti-virals that may help you.

  7. According to the Iowa Department of Health, the best way to prevent flu is to get a flu shot.

  8. You can get the flu from someone who has the flu but hasn't developed symptoms yet.

  9. The flu usually lasts fro five days once the symptoms develop.

  10. If you get the flu, chances are you will not have complications such as pneumonia, dehydration, or a worsening in a medical condition such as Diabetes, Asthma, or congestive Heart Failure.

Answers: 1. True, 2. False, 3. False, 4. True, 5. True, 6. True, 7. True, 8. True, 9. True, 10. False

Rationales:

  1. The flu is a respiratory illness, but children may have gastrointestinal symptoms too.
  2. Not possible. The vaccine is derived from an "inactivated" virus, not a living one that can produce disease.
  3. There may still be flu strains present that were not included in the vaccine, however, the scientist and researchers who develop the vaccine put much time and effort into deciding what influenza viral strain will appear during a given year.
  4. You can get the flu without coming into contact with a live being if they have coughed, sneezed or otherwise touched the object before you do.
  5. Don't risk spreading the flu to other people.
  6. This is possible and would be up to your physician and you.
  7. It is stated in the Iowa Department of Health web page.
  8. A person can come in contact with a flu droplet and not develop symptoms for 24 hours, however, they can still spread the disease.
  9. Five days of symptoms is typical but can be slightly more or less.
  10. Many people develop complications from the flu and preventable deaths occur each year to unvaccinated people. The message is to get your flu shot and encourage others to get theirs.

Peace and Love,
Judy Hiles, Parish Nurse

Last updated: January 3rd, 2012