Home Page Home Page Events Events Photos Photos Diocese of Ogdensburg Home Page  
Follow Us on Facebook


Archives Mercy Care plans training for Parish Nurses

February 19, 2020

Lake Placid – Mercy Care for the Adirondacks, a mission sponsored by the Sisters of Mercy, will offer the Foundations Course for Faith Community Nursing for Parish Nursing on March 27 (1 – 5 p.m.), March 28 (8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m.), April 4 (8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m.), April 18 (8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m.), April 24 (1 – 5 p.m.), and April 25, (8:30 a.m. – 3 p.m.).

All sessions are required. 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.

Mercy Care’s Faith Community Nurse Program is a volunteer program. If you are a registered nurse with a desire to help people live a healthy, faith-filled life, you may wish to serve your own faith community or others in the community as a volunteer parish nurse.

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.

In an evaluation survey Mercy Care Parish Nurses were asked, “What do you like most about being a parish nurse?” One of our nurses replied, “I like the fact that I am able to help the aging population through a very credible organization which gives me the support and encouragement that I need as a volunteer. I also like the available continuing education that is offered by Mercy Care and the camaraderie, new ideas and support of other Parish Nurses.

Catherine Cummings, Ed.D., R.N., a Sister of Mercy, 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.
To register for the course or request more information, please contact Sister Catherine Cummings at 518-523-5582 or ccummings@adkmercy.org.

Nurses who are interested in learning about Faith Community Nursing but are not yet ready to take the course may audit one or more of the topics.

Mercy Care has trained more than 50 parish nurses throughout the North County, eight 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’s mission is to enhance in every dimension the fullness of life of elders living in their community. It carries out its work through a Friendship Volunteer Program, a Parish Nurse Program, a Caregiver Friend Program, and an Education and Advocacy Program.

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

North Country Catholic North Country Catholic is
honored by Catholic Press
Association of US & Canada

Copyright © Roman Catholic Diocese of Ogdensburg. All rights reserved.