Parish Nurse

The Parish Nurse program was started in the 1980′s by Rev. Dr. Granger Westberg who saw how congregations could impact the health of communities and churches. He found that most physicians and nurses were not very observant of the spiritual needs of their patients. Rev. Westberg spent many years studying and formulating what he came to call “Parish Nursing.” His goal was holistic health and wellness incorporating the spirit, mind and body.

Grace Lutheran established a Parish Nurse program in 2003 with a part time, volunteer, retired Registered Nurse. The program offers a variety of services for the congregation such as annual Lifeline Screening, semi-annual Blood Drives, fall flu shots, and First Aid and CPR courses. Our Parish Nurse will schedule some Sunday mornings for blood pressure and blood sugar checks and for individual health counseling when needed. She writes a monthly newsletter article on health issues and topics and maintains a small library of health articles and books.