Faith Community Nurse

The Shelter Faith Community Nurse provides 20 hours of nursing support to the shelter each week.  The Shelter Nurse is housed in a medical room, furnished with medical furniture and equipment through a grant from the Dakota Medical Foundation and with medical supplies and equipment from Project HERO.   There are seven basic functions of the position: 1) Health Educator; 2) Personal Health Counselor; 3) Integrator of Faith and Health; 4) Trainer of Volunteers; 5) Developer of Support Groups; 6) Referral Agent; and 7) Health Advocate. 

History:  In 2006, Churches United and the YWCA shelters approached MeritCare Health Parish Nursing Program to request they assist in providing nursing services.  The shelters liked the wholistic approach of the shelter nurse model, reconizing the importance of a balance between spirit, mind and body to be truley healthy.  In June, 2006 a full-time Shelter Faith Community Nurse was hired to serve the two shelters.  Although the position is modeled after the Parish Nurse model, it is unique, breaking ground on a new dimension in nursing.