Parish Nursing Program Receives Grant

A Parish Nurse Program developed by the Nursing and Pastoral Care Departments of Methodist Hospital, with leadership from Barbara E. Drake, RN, MSN, clinical nurse specialist, and Chaplain Christy Meneely, received one of the first grants ever awarded by the Methodist Hospital Foundation.

Parish nurses, in partnership with South Philadelphia churches, will help the many under served elderly, chronically ill, Asian, homeless and children access better healthcare and utilize community resources. Parish nurses will join in ministry with the church staff to teach community residents how to prevent illness and promote wellness of body, mind, and spirit, fulfilling the words of Jesus, "I am come that they might have life and that they might have it more abundantly." (John 10:10 KJV)

Three United Methodist Churches in South Philadelphia will participate in the Methodist Hospital Parish Nurse Program in its first year of operation: Tindley Temple UMC, St. Barnabas-Bethsaida and St. Luke’s-Snyder Avenue UMC.

Parish nurses will identify the health concerns of church members, provide individual health counseling and education and use existing vehicles within the church, such as newsletters and gatherings, to distribute health information. Assisting people to understand the relationship between faith and health, parish nurses will enhance the church’s healing ministry.

Ms. Drake, who will coordinate the Parish Nursing Program, has served as a parish nurse at Union UMC in Havertown for the past four years. In the future, she hopes to open the program to additional churches in South Philadelphia. Experienced registered nurses who are interested in parish nursing may contact Ms. Drake at 215-952-9506.

"We are thankful that Methodist Hospital Foundation recognized the importance of establishing a Nursing Parish Program in our community," said Ms. Drake. "We look forward to working with our South Philadelphia neighbors to enable them to become more effective partners in managing their health."