President s Perspective

Transcription

1 News from Kentucky Baptist Nursing Fellowship May, 2015 President s Perspective As a group of nurses from my church gathered around my dining room table this week in celebration of National Nurses Week, we shared our nursing stories about how we became interested in this career and some of the high and low points along the way. The stories were each unique. There were those of us who have wanted to be a nurse from as far back as early childhood, caring for our sick dolls, pets, and neighborhood friends with scraped knees and elbows. Others pursued the career later in life, some as a second career. We represented civilian, military, volunteer, and missionary sectors. The age range was years, and each nurse s area of expertise was different. But in spite of the diversity, there is the commonality of care and compassion exemplified in the labors of each one. The strong bond, however, holding this group together, is our love for the Lord. I believe that as Christian nurses we are called to go above and beyond that which our non- Christian nurse colleagues practice. The light that shines through us and in us is not from Florence Nightingale s lamp, but from our Lord. We have been given gifts and talents intended to be used for God s glory. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven. Matt 5:16 I encourage you to look for opportunities to share the love of Jesus through the gifts and talents He has given you. Send cards of encouragement to other nurses. A card with a hand-written message conveys so much more than our methods of instant communication. Pray for our missionary nurses. Mark your calendar to pray on the 6 th of every month for BNF. Select several from our KY BNF roster to pray for by name. (If you do not have list of nurses, please contact Wanda.) Look for mission opportunities. People EVERYWHERE need to hear about the love of Jesus. In this newsletter, you will read about some of our mission endeavors over the past months, and about upcoming events. The website of the National BNF lists upcoming mission events and ministry ideas. How will YOU use your gifts and talents to serve God? In His Service, Donna Mitchell, RN, MSN Kentucky BNF Serving God through Medical Missions It is Jesus name and faith that comes through him that has given this complete healing to him as you all have seen. Acts 3:16b (NIV)

2 Reports from Recent Ministry Opportunities I was privileged to serve at the Baptist Nursing Fellowship (BNF) Health Fair at Parkway Baptist Church in Bardstown, KY, on April 28, During the "Senior Celebration" conference, I served alongside Donna Mitchell and Charlotte Rock providing blood pressure and pulse assessments for over 50 seniors, blood glucose assessments for seniors, and innumerable consultations about diet and nutritional concerns. Our Health Fair was equipped exceptionally well with handouts about most every expected health issue. Health education was invaluable to this community actively seeking information, guidance, and confidence. I found that our "listening ear" was most appreciated as many needed "to be loved on" during a difficult, unsettling time in their life dealing with personal health concerns. Sandy Amburn, Louisville The Wellness Check Station provided by BNF, at the Senior Living Celebration in Eddyville, on April 30th, was a big hit with all those that attended. Several folks made comments about why we were not at previous Senior Celebrations sponsored by the KY Baptist Convention. Actually, this was our first year to be invited and to be involved. Beverly Jennings and I spent the day at Eddyville First Baptist Church providing blood pressure and blood glucose checks to anyone who wanted to stop by our display table. For those who were really interested, we talked about BMI and what those numbers represent. Lots of health information and pamphlets were displayed for the taking. We also gave out Humana tote bags and Humana's health magazine, Active Outlook. The attendees were glad that nurses were present to answer their questions, as well as do simple wellness checks. We were kept busy from breakfast till after lunch talking with the seniors and giving them health information. We also provided nursing care to anyone who got sick or needed a nurse to check them out. One elderly participant experienced colon pain and dizziness. We stayed with her until she felt better and was able to join her group again. Another older woman fell down a flight of stairs and needed quick emergency care. Beverly kept the lady calm, took vitals, and had 911 called while I

3 did first aid to stop the bleeding of her leg. The police, paramedics, and ambulance arrived to help us out. Eddyville Baptist Church was so appreciative that the nurses from BNF were present to deal with the medical crisis. On May 18, Beverly, Dee King and I served at Women of Worth Women s Conference at Kentucky Dam Village. Health education was offered along with blood pressure and blood sugar testing. Helping and serving others is what our BNF is all about. Dolores Gilmore, Henderson Kentucky Baptist Nursing Fellowship Provides: Worship and Bible study opportunities with other nursing professionals. Participation in missions activities. Prayer support for BNF members and missionary nurses. Information and encouragement about missions careers in the medical field. Preparation for lifestyle witnessing. What is a nurse? Is it a job? Is it a career? Is it a calling? I believe God made us for a purpose and the profession we chose is part of that goal. Nurses serve at the KY Baptist Building Local nurses served on May 4 at the Kentucky Baptist Building offering blood pressure checks, BMI analysis, and blood sugar testing to Kentucky Baptist Convention Board members and staff. When we combine our profession of nursing with our faith it turns into a calling. Now, I know I am preaching to the choir. As a member of Baptist Nursing Fellowship, you already have the close relationship with faith and nursing. I challenge you to spread the news. Share BNF with co-workers, among nursing friends, in Sunday school, in your neighborhood, among your relatives and at professional meetings. Encourage all to join our Baptist Nursing Fellowship. The dues are $15.00 per year for LPN s, RN s and other medical professionals. Students dues are only $10.00 per year. Active or retired missionary nurses and retired nurses (age 72+) are free. Membership is renewed annually. With paid dues, members will receive e-newsletters and updates, discounts to Kentucky BNF events, and information about missionary opportunities locally and globally. Anne Partenheimer Enlistment Coordinator

4 FAITH COMMUNITY NURSE According to Faith Community Nursing: Scope and Standards of Practice, the primary focus of the Faith Community Nurse is the intentional care of the spirit. (ANA/HMA, 2012, p.8). In caring for the spirit, the nurse can practice the gift of presence. The Gift of Presence goes beyond being physically close in proximity being fully aware of the moment and intentionally focusing on the situation at hand. (Author unknown) As nurses, we tend to be busy doing tasks that need to be done. It is so hard to be still yet the Psalmist says in 46:10, be still and know that I am God. The provision of spiritual care, according to the material in the Foundations of Faith Community Nursing course, flows out of who we are, what we believe and where we are in our own spiritual journeys. We must have addressed our own struggles and be willing to care for those who are in the midst of muckiness. We can embrace anything that takes us out of our comfort zone in order to be open to whatever God puts in our path. Spiritual care is about taking our shoes off and standing on holy ground because God is present. As I think about ways that I can be stretched and open, I keep coming back to a ministry among the shut-ins in my faith community, especially the widows. According to US statistics, nine out of ten women who marry will be a widow at some time in their lives. Over 75% of women are single when they die! Over 70% of my congregation is 65 or older. Many of these are widows still serving in various ministries. But there are several who are unable to attend due to problems but still have the ability to minister from their homes. So I ask myself: What am I doing to impact the care of the widows in my congregation? Deuteronomy 10:18 says He (the Lord God) defends the cause of the fatherless and the widow, and loves the foreigner residing among you, giving them food and clothing. In Old Testament days, the widows were often without basic needs and were taken advantage of. Jesus rebukes the religious leaders by saying They devour widows houses (Mark 12:40.) Jesus held widows in high regard: praised the widow who gave all she had, raised from the dead the son of the widow of Nain, and even from the cross made arrangements for the care of his mother, a widow. In the early church the office of deacon was established to care for the Gentile widows who were being neglected. Mrs. Nobie was an 86 year-old widow who was unable to attend church due to being housebound. Every week we took the weekly newsletter and bulletin to her home for her to fold and prepare for mailing. She considered that her ministry to the church. Another woman at age 93 is housebound, but able to write notes of encouragement and send cards which are a blessing to the recipients. Would I deny these widows that opportunity to minister because I am too busy to provide the necessary medical materials? I believe that many of the widows who are lonely and discouraged because they feel the church has forgotten them would possibly be revitalized to find joy in ministry. Charolette M. Rock, RN BSN CDP FCN Faith Community Nurse Consultant, KY BNF

5 Save the Date National BNF Annual Meeting September 18 20, 2015 This year brings some exciting changes to our BNF Annual Meeting. We re looking forward to meeting at both a different time of year and at a different venue. Join us this fall at Shocco Springs, a nonprofit, Christian conference center in Talladega, Alabama. Our survey results showed that you desired a time of the year that does not conflict with state WMU and BNF meetings and that members wanted an affordable location with an inviting atmosphere. To meet those needs, your national BNF executive committee has worked diligently to provide the best dates, location, and affordability for this year s meeting. The meeting cost this year is just $ (double occupancy) or $ (single occupancy) which includes the registration fee, two nights lodging, and five meals. This is a significant savings over last year s fee of $200, which did not include lodging or meals. Also, participants can look forward to a silent auction with proceeds going toward the Student Nurse Endowment Fund. Participants are encouraged to bring item(s) to donate to the auction. Donations can range from any item in good repair that one may have around the house to something homemade, sewn, knitted, etc. Cash will also be needed to purchase tickets to make bids. This is great fun and one of the annual activities utilized to raise funds for scholarships and endowments. This year s theme is From Ashes to Beauty based on Isaiah 61:3: To console those who mourn in Zion, To give them beauty for ashes, The oil of joy for mourning, The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; That they may be called trees of righteousness, The planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified (NKJV). Our continuing education units will focus on Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Four CEUs will be presented during the meeting: P = From Pain to Power T = From Troubled to Triumph S = From Sorrow to Strength D = From Despair to Delivered Arrival/Registration: 4:00 5:00pm Friday, September 18 Closing Service: 10:30 11:00am Sunday, September 20 To register, please call or

6 Baptist Nursing Fellowship Summer Meeting June 27, :00 AM Severns Valley Baptist Association Office 500 College Street Road, Elizabethtown Beginning a Wellness Ministry in the Church Presented by Walnut Street Baptist Church Wellness Team $20.00 BNF members $25.00 others No CEU contact hours will be given for this presentation. Fee includes lunch and all materials. Ministry project items (For Shirley Woodson, KY nurse serving in Turkey) Kid friendly band aids...these aren't available in Turkey. (characters, bright colors, patterned) Tylenol tablets for adults. Neosporin like ointment. Alcohol swabs...can't find these in Turkey except at the hospitals Registration form Name Address address Contact BNF members registering x $20.00 = Non BNF registering X $25.00 = Membership Fee (if renewing or joining) X $15.00 = AMOUNT ENCLOSED $ Make check payable to Kentucky WMU. Mail to: Summer BNF meeting REGISTRATION DEADLINE IS Kentucky WMU TUESDAY, JUNE 23 PO Box Louisville, KY You will receive an confirmation upon receipt of payment.

7 Become a member of KY Baptist Nursing Fellowship If you are an active, retired, student nurse, or other medical professional, Baptist Nursing Fellowship may be just what you are looking for! Our goal is to have an active fellowship of Christian medical professionals in Kentucky to include: Worship and Bible study opportunities with other nursing professionals. Participation in missions activities. Prayer support for BNF members and missionary nurses. Information and encouragement about missions careers in the medical field. Preparation for lifestyle witnessing. Dues are $15 per year for LPN s, RN s and other medical professionals and $10 per year for students. Active or retired missionary nurses and retired nurses (ages 72+) are free. Membership must be renewed annually. You will receive a membership card, four newsletters a year, discounts to Kentucky BNF events, and much more. Complete the information on this page and send to KY WMU PO Box Louisville, KY Name Street Address City State Phone ( ) Church Association Zip RN LPN Student Retired Other Share your faith and network with nurses and other medical professionals throughout our state. This newsletter is provided through BNF registration fees, gifts of your church through the Cooperative Program, and the Eliza Broadus Offering.