Two Catholic women were commissioned May 17 at Grace United Methodist Church in St. Cloud after completing the Foundations of Faith Community Nursing program.
Barb Friederichs from St. Mary Parish in Alexandria and Tami Rieland from St. Paul Parish in Sauk Centre are among five registered nurses who completed the program. Of the other three, two are from Fellowship Bible Church in Pierz and one is from Faithbridge Church in Park Rapids.
Faith community nursing is a specialized area of professional nursing recognized by the American Nursing Association and the Health Ministries Association. These nursing professionals integrate faith and health.
The program consists of four days of in-class instruction, as well as a newly added online component, which makes it easier for nurses to fit it into their schedules, according to lead educator Joyce Simones. “We try to make it as easy and do-able as we can,” she said.
The May 17 commissioning brings the total number of faith community nurses who have completed the program since it began in 2018 to 22.
Another class is expected to be offered in the fall. Completion of the class and an active Minnesota registered nurse license are required to work as a faith community nurse.
Simones, a member of Sacred Heart Parish in Sauk Rapids, says it is a privilege to work with the program.
“For a while I worked in home care. … I saw the need that’s there and the resources that they need,” she said. “Faith community nursing fills that need in the community. I also have an education background, so putting both of them together for our faith community nursing is just the perfect fit for me.”
Working with new groups of nurses helps make the organization stronger.
“New ideas, new ways of doing things — we always need that,” Simones said. “We are always looking for the best practice, the best way to do things, and by having new members come in to the group, that’s always the excitement.”
Upcoming event: The Central Minnesota Faith Community Nurse Committee will co-sponsor the workshop, “Suicide & Drugs, How Can We Help?” with CentraCare Health Education and Professional Development Department on Wednesday, June 19 at the CentraCare Health Plaza / Windfeldt Room, 1900 CentraCare Health Plaza, St. Cloud. Faith community nurses, clergy, deacons, pastoral ministers and assistants, youth ministers, chaplains and others interested can find more information at www.centracare.com/services/spiritual-care/faith-community-nursing/education-events-news.