St. Paul's Cares for Body and Soul

St. Paul's Episcopal Church, Kingsport, has added a parish nurse to its staff.

"We're one of the first churches in the diocese to take this step," said the Rev. Dan Matthews, rector.

But Judy Campbell, St. Paul's new nurse, is one of 27 parish nurses in the area between Emory, Va. and Jonesborough,Tn."People," according to Campbell, "are no longer exclaiming, Parish what?" but are beginning to understand."

Two years ago Rosalee Sites, a respected Kingsport R.N., in conjunction with the Wellness Department at Wellmont Holston Valley Medical Center in Kingsport began the program.

"We think it's the future," Campbell said. "With cutbacks in Medicaid and Medicare, each of us must work to meet needs that are not met in hospitals and doctors' offices."

Parish nurses are R.N.s with experience and special orientations on parish service, but they are not hands-on. Campbell does not dress wounds or give shots. "I'm like a library--a resource person," she said.

Campbell is available to counsel, to make health care referrals, to be with parishioners during illnesses and to educate in areas such as diet and exercise. She said, "A person can come and talk to me when they are diagnosed."

The purpose of the Parish Nurse Program is to help people in religious congregations and surrounding communities reach their optimal level of health.

The Parish Nurse Program began because Sites and other health care personnel believed in the need for education in the spiritual side of healing. "Health care providers are so busy and technical, but we know there's more to healing than the medical side," Campbell said.

As a parish nurse, Campbell understands the healing mission of the church, accepts the wholistic concept of care and promotes wellness and prevention of illness within the congregation.

"I'm also extra legs, doing visitation in hospitals, nursing homes and in the homes of parishioners," she said.

Each month at nearby Holy Trinity Lutheran Church with its parish nurse, Campbell presents "Lunch and Learn" in cooperation with the missions of National Heart, Cancer, Diabetes Months. "In our education programs we cover everything from nursing homes to Scrubby Bear hand washing to how to listen and pray," she said.

"With the Parish Nurse Program we wanted a parish nurse to get involved in the lives of our parishioners--less than a doctor but more than a priest--to look beyond the pastoral landscape and see possibilities such as the Food Pantry, and she already has," Matthews said.

Campbell will begin blood pressure and other screenings for parishioners. She is available for participants in the Food Pantry.

Wellmont is funding St. Paul's parish nurse for the first year. The second year Wellmont funds 50% of the costs. Afterwards, the program becomes the full responsibility of the church.

A native of Kingsport, Campbell earned her R.N. degree at Sinclair University in Dayton, OH. With 23 years experience, she is now working 24 hours each week in medical surgery at Wellmont. She keeps office hours at St. Paul's on Tuesdays from 12 to 5 and on Wednesdays 9 to 5.

"She's bubbly, energetic, out going. We're delighted with her," said Matthews.