Saint Raphael’s Parish Nurse Program reaches out to 32 community churches and synagogues. The program consists of volunteer parish nurses, who are each members of their specific church or synagogue. The parish nurses work with and actively recruit other volunteers to provide health information and community referrals in their house of worship, as well as sponsor screening and support groups for members of their congregation.
Most are registered nurses, and Saint Raphael’s provides an intensive nine-week training course that covers everything from spiritual wellness to the importance of listening and learning.
The program is designed to help eliminate confusion about healthcare services and to improve access to health care. Services might include blood pressure and cholesterol screenings, diabetes and vision checks or flu shot clinics, and some nurses follow up on members who have health problems or were recently released from a hospital, to help ensure they are getting services they need.
For more information on our Parish Nurse Program, please call (203) 789-3429.