Mercy Care Parish Nurses Penny McGill and Janice Connors (Photo provided)

LAKE PLACID – Mercy Care for the Adirondacks, a mission sponsored by the Sisters of Mercy, will offer the Foundations Course for Faith Community Nursing / Parish Nursing on April 6, 7, 14, 21, and 28. The course is offered to registered nurses of all faiths. Mercy Care provides the training at no cost to participants but pre-registration is required.

The parish nurse offers assistance in obtaining community services, helps with understanding diagnoses, medications and diagnostic tests, provides blood pressure screening, health education programs and much more. The parish nurse does not do hands-on nursing or duplicate what is available through the public health nurse, but does bring his or her nursing experience and faith to the service of others.

One of Mercy Care’s Parish Nurses wrote recently, “I was able to bring some comfort to someone on the loss of her brother. Another Parish Nurse said, “I love the visits and providing whatever help is needed. The relationships you build are so special.”

Sr. Catherine Cummings, RSM, Ed.D., R.N. is qualified as a Parish Nurse Educator and will lead the training course. The course entitled “Foundations of Faith Community Nursing” requires 38 contact hours.

Anyone who is a registered nurse with a desire to help people live a healthy, faith-filled life, who wishes to serve their own faith community or others in the Tri-Lakes area as a volunteer parish nurse is asked to register for the course or request more information by contacting Sister Catherine Cummings at 523-5582 or ccummings@adkmercy.org.

Mercy Care has trained more than 50 parish nurses throughout the North County, 11 of whom are serving in the Tri-Lakes area. Mercy Care for the Adirondacks facilitates networking with other nurses in the program and provides the support and equipment to its Faith Community Nurse Volunteers. The program offers the nurse an opportunity to choose the number of hours she/he is able to give to providing care that is holistic and wellness-focused in the community.

Faith Community Nursing or Parish Nursing, as it is often called, is one of the fastest growing specialties in nursing. It has spread rapidly throughout the country. Care is given in accordance with each individual’s values and spiritual beliefs.

Mercy Care for the Adirondacks is located at 185 Old Military Road, Lake Placid, NY 12946. For more information, visit Mercy Care’s website at www.adkmercy.org.