Prayer also big part of coordinated health care with congregants

As seen in the Naperville Sun
Published July 3, 2009
By Wendy Foster

Wellness is not always the absence of illness, according to Saralea Holstrom of Naperville.

"Many people I deal with have serious illnesses but are very well people as a whole because of their outlook on life," she said.

As a parish nurse at Our Saviour's Lutheran Church in Naperville, Holstrom strives to maximize wellness by working to integrate health and faith.

"It's a great job. I believe in the concept, and I believe in what I do," she said.

Holstrom was one of the first parish nurses in the area, having started in May 1985.

"At first I had a few concerns. I really was a pioneer in this position," she said.

Now, parish nursing is growing in popularity, not only in the United States but internationally, too. Holstrom explained that connection between health and faith is not only an easy one to make, but also one that's commanded in the Bible.

"In our Christian faith, we believe that Jesus went out to teach and to heal," she said.

Pam Riley, the parish nurse at Grace United Methodist Church in Naperville, feels the trend toward parish nursing is strengthened because of changes in medicine.

"Doctors don't give the same amount of time to patients they use to," she said. "Most patients leave the doctor's office with tons of questions. Parish nurses can help in that way, can connect people to community resources, or get assistance from our whole community of parish nurses. It's a wonderful collaboration."

While specific programs vary from church to church, in general, parish nurses are registered with additional training, act as educators, advocates, resources, confidants and coordinators of congregational health initiatives.

"I do meet with a lot of people at church. People come in and talk with me or even call me on the phone when they're in crisis," Riley said. "I usually end up praying with them at the end of our visit. That's an important aspect. People really look for me to pray with them at the end of our time."

Both Holstrom and Riley do some home and hospital visits, not to provide hands-on medical care, but to help make recommendations and offer support.

"I'm not there to take the place of a personal physician but to act as a go-between," Holstrom said. The greatest need is often with the congregation's senior population.

Riley runs a prayer shawl ministry and cancer support groups and helps to officiate at monthly healing services. Parish nurses will, with their congregants' approval, draw parish chaplain or ministers into situations that would benefit from further pastoral care.

"I believe that positive attitude has a lot do with health, and prayer has a lot to do with being healthy," Riley said. "Trying to integrate those things for people who are open to those ideas is important."