Education, Research & Stories

Continuing Education Workshops

The Faith Community Nurse Network provides at least four professional nursing education workshops every year, each worth 3.6 CEUs. The workshops are sponsored in part by Hennepin County Department of Human Services & Public Health and Metropolitan Health Plan (MHP).

Our 2012 Calendar includes the following:

Older Adults & Addiction: How to Recognize a Problem & What You Can Do to Help
9:30 AM - 12:30
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
Bloomington Covenant Church,
10150 Xerxes Avenue South, Bloomington, MN

Suffering: A Faith Community Nursing Perspective
9:30 AM - 12:30
Wednesday, March 14, 2012
Adath Jeshurun Congregation
10500 Hillside Lane West, Minnetonka, MN

Forgiveness
9:30 AM - 12:30
Wednesday, June 27, 2012
Church of St. Michael
611 3rd St South, Stillwater, MN

Health Care Reform Today
9:30 AM - 12:30
Wednesday, October 24, 2011
St. Andrew Lutheran Church
13600 Techology Drive, Eden Prairie, MN

All Programs begin at 9:30 AM and conclude at 12:30, followed by lunch. Workshops are valued at 3.6 CEUs. Pre-registration is required five days in advance.

The workshops are sponsored in part by Hennepin County Department of Human Services & Public Health and Metropolitan Health Plan (MHP).

The following fee schedule applies for FCNN workshops:

$25 per workshop for FCNs or $75 for all four workshops
$50 per workshop for non-FCNs or $150 for all four
free for retired FCNs, students, or FCNN committee and board members

Become a Program Sponsor

FCNN welcomes displays from a limited number of qualified nursing services, nursing homes, and related businesses at each continuing education workshop. For more information, please contact wanda.alexander@co.hennepin.mn.us or 612/919-9821.

To register for a workshop:

Contact Wanda Alexander at wanda@fcnntc.org or call 612-919-9821 for additional information.

Foundations in Faith Community Nursing Course

The Ministry of Parish Nursing Practice FCNN offers the International Parish Nurse Resource Center (IPNRC) certified course in a 36 CEU format taught by professional nursing faculty who are both educators and experienced faith community nurses representing an array of faith traditions. The Course is a pre-requisite for RNs who want to enter faith community nursing practice.

2012 Course Dates:

Weekends: April 20-21, May 4-5, May 18-19, 2012
at Our Lady of Peace Home
Fridays 6 - 9:30 pm and Saturdays 8 am - 5 pm

Monday-Friday: Oct 15-19, 2012
at Our Lady of Peace Home
9 am - 5 pm (Friday, 9 am - 3 pm)

Contact Hours: 36 CEUs for Registered Nurses

Course Description

The course utilizes the newly revised International Parish Nurse Resource Center 2009 curriculum. The curriculum emphasizes the spiritual dimension, professionalism, wholistic health and community as its central conceptual model for Faith Community Nursing.

The Spiritual Dimension is the central core of Faith Community Nursing practice, wherein each Faith Community Nurse is encouraged to live out her/his beliefs and faith with self, others, and God/Higher Power. This unit includes modules on History and Philosophy, Prayer, Self Care and Healing and Wholeness.

The unit on Professionalism includes parameters within which the Faith Community Nurse practices, including the Faith Community Nursing: Scope and Standards of Practice, and state/country practice acts. Other modules deal with Communication, Documentation, and Beginning your Ministry.

The Wholistic Health unit espouses the belief that the Faith Community Nurse promotes Shalom as a foundation for wholism, health and healing. Health promotion introduces the concepts of education, prevention, and teaching/learning principles across the life span. Other life issues such as suffering, grief and loss, and family violence are included.

The unit on Community asserts that community is a group with common interests, including the faith community, professional nursing community, 2 geographic community, global community, demographic community, or other communities. Issues of diversity are considered within this model.

Faculty

Our Lead Faculty is comprised of experienced Faith Community Nurses who have completed faculty education at the International Parish Nurse Resource Center in St. Louis.

Delores Johnson Huanca, RN, BSN, MS, FCN, Faith Community Nurse at the First Evangelical Free Church in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

The Lead Faculty is complimented by an interfaith team of Adjunct Faculty comprised of experienced faith community nurses and nursing educators.

Prospective Students

The Course is designed to meet the needs of Registered Nurses; only RNs will receive Continuing Education Units. Chaplains, health ministers, faith community nursing coordinators and other related professionals may also enroll in the class but will not receive certification as a faith community nurse.

Continuing Education Units:

A total of 36 Continuing Education Units will be awarded to Registered Nurses who complete the Course. Others who complete the course will receive a certificate of completion.

Fees

The cost of the course is $550. This fee includes contact hours, materials, IPNRC pin, certificate, and lunch.

Housing

Housing may be arranged nearby at a reasonable rate. Please contact Wanda Alexander at wanda@fcnntc.org or 612/919-9821 for details.

Scholarships

The Faith Community Nurse Network of the Greater Twin Cities (FCNN) is committed to increasing the number of faith community nurses practicing in the metro area. FCNN will award a limited number of $250 scholarships to Registered Nurses who live in the 11-county Twin Cities area (Anoka, Carver, Chisago, Dakota, Hennepin, Isanti, Ramsey, Scott, Sherburne, Washington, or Wright County).

For consideration, the nurse must submit an initial $300 payment along with a letter of support from her congregation’s leadership (i.e. pastor, rabbi, church council) documenting (1) the congregation’s intent to pursue faith community nursing and their support of this nurse’s candidacy and (2) a statement of financial need. The nurse will be notified if a scholarship will be awarded granted within 2 weeks of receipt of all required materials.

For information about the Basic Preparation for Faith Community Nursing Course contact: Dee Huanca, RN, MS, FCN ddhuanca@msn.com 612/388-0268

Click here to download the registration form to mail with a check (MS Word).

*Click here to register if you are applying for a scholarship and you would like to pay by credit card.*

Mental Health Seminars

Quarterly seminars and mental health case consulations led by mental health professionals from PrairieCare in a discussion format. Each session is provides 1.8 CEUs and is free of charge for FCNs. Registration is limited to 25 FCNs at each session.

Upcoming Seminars:

Feb 8 at Our Lady of Peace Home

April 25, location tbd

Sept 19 location tbd

Click here to register for a Mental Health Case Consultation

Contact Wanda Alexander at wanda@fcnntc.org or call 612-919-9821 for additional information.

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Research

FCNN is committed to fostering, supporting and generating faith community nursing research. We encourage DNP students to contact us with their ideas for community projects.

Research & Education Advisory Council

In 2009, the Board of Directors appointed the Research & Education Council to encourage, facilitate and produce research in faith community nursing and to provide expertise and guidance in the development and implementation of FCNNs educational programs. The Council Members serve as faculty representatives of the respective Schools of Nursing, working to develop partnerships with FCNN.

	Valborg Tollefsrud, RN, MEd, FCN Co-Chair Professor, Retired, St. Olaf School of Nursing Valborg has served as an unpaid, full time Parish Nurse since 1995 at Our Redeemer Evangelical Lutheran Church in Minneapolis and makes 40-46 calls each week. She assumed this career immediately upon her retirement as Professor of Nursing, St. Olaf School of Nursing where she taught for forty years. Her emphasis as a Parish Nurse or Faith Community Nurse is on intentional spirituality, which she believes is the key component that makes Parish Nursing unique. Valborg is a past member of the FCNN Board of Directors and has served on our Continuing Education Committee since its inception. In October, 2009, she addressed the International Public Health Nursing Conference in Oslo, Norway on "Faith Community Nursing in the Minnesota".
	Barbara Leonard, PhD, RN, FAAN Co-Chair Professor, University of Minnesota School of Nursing "I am deeply interested in spirituality in nursing. Most of my research has focused on understanding how faith community nurses describe their work in congregations, especially with senior citizens."
	Eleanor Edman, PhD, RN, FCN Professor Emeritus, Bethel University Nursing Department
	Rita Glazebrook, PhD, RN Professor & Chair, St Olaf & Gustavus Adolphus Department of Nursing
	Sue Hageness, DNP, RN, AHN-BC Assistant Professor, St. Catherine University Dept. of Nursing, Dept of Holistic Health Studies
	Christine Mueller, PhD, RN Professor, University of Minnesota School of Nursing, Chair, Adult & Gerontological Health
	Alice Murphy, RN, BSN, DrPH (ABD) Assistant Professor, Patty Hanks Shelton School of Nursing
	Susan O’Conner-Von, PhD, RN Associate Professor, University of Minnesota School of Nursing
	Marge Schaffer, PhD, RN Professor, Bethel University Nursing Department Marjorie A. Schaffer, RN, BA, MS, PhD, is a professor of nursing at Bethel University, where she teaches courses in public health nursing, health policy, and nursing research. As a Fulbright Senior Scholar in 2005, she lectured and conducted research in Norway. In 2009, her book Being Present: A Nurse’s Resource for End-of-Life Communication was published by Sigma Theta Tau International. Dr. Schaffer travelled to Norway as a Fulbright Specialist to Diakonova University College in Oslo in 2009 and 2010 to consult on the development of a master’s program in public health nursing. In 2010, she received the University Professor Award from Bethel University for excellence in scholarship. She speaks nationally and internationally on end-of-life care and decision making.
	Joann Wessman, PhD, RN Professor Emerita, Bethel University Nursing Department "My research over a decade has focused on integration of faith/health issues for the frail, church-affiliated elderly. Currently that interest is being expressed in directing the NOAH project for FCNN."

Documents

Executive Summary: Faith Community Nurses November, 2007 (pdf)

Supporting Seniors Across Systems: Effectiveness of Parish Nurse Interventions (pdf)

Care of Community- Dwelling Older Adults by Faith Community Nurses (pdf)

Rydholm, L., Moone, R., Thornquist, L., Alexander, W., Gustafson, V., Speece, B.(2008) Care of community dwelling older adults by faith community nurses. Journal of Gerontological Nursing. 34 (4): 18-31

Rydholm. L. (2006) Documenting the value of faith community nursing: Saving hundreds, making Cents. Creative Nursing Journal 2006, (2): 10-12

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Stories

Dee Huanca

Delores Huanca

LIVING WITH STAGE 4 CANCER

Early in my career, while a partner in a mental health practice, the two of us devised a model entitled “The Survival/Living Concept”. Now, nearly 40 years later, I arrived at the point of choosing survival or truly living for my remaining time on this earth. I chose living; let me explain:

It was the beginning of September, 2009, and, after many tests, biopsies, and surgery, I was diagnosed with stage 4 metastatic colon cancer. I was told I could live up to 2 years without treatment; however, appropriate treatment could extend this time. My mind flashed back to when my sister was diagnosed with multiple myeloma and given 3 months to live. Now, five years later, with prayer and treatment, she did well. I, too, chose treatment.

Chemotherapy is not easy with its many side effects: nausea, diarrhea, constipation, fatigue and weakness, along with blood clots and infections that necessitated more hospitalizations and surgery.

I have never been a quitter, but was always considered an achiever. I am the oldest of my family, a nurse, an educator, and a leader in my church. Now all these activities were curtailed. When in the hospital for my first surgery, my pastor, while visiting me, said “We just want you to BE with us.” Of course, I was familiar with this concept: to be and not be able to do, however, would be difficult. Having “permission” to BE helped me to live my life even though it was not life as I preferred, because I did not know what was ahead of me. I had given my life and career to God years before, but now I had to give my body to Him and let Him take full control of everything.

Years earlier, when my partner and I define survival for our model, we described it as having met a state of desiring to have the needs of acceptance, approval and affection from self, others and God. However, if previous experiences have not met these needs we may become fearful, angry and depressed. Living was described as having the fruits of the Spirit – love, joy, peace, patience, and goodness that come from having one’s needs met. After realizing I was not in control, I was able to grasp the fact that God wanted only my trust and desire to be more like Him. This meant I needed to spend more time with Him; time I now had because I no longer had the strength that would normally be spent on other activities.

I had always been self-sufficient, so it was humbling to ask for help to be driven to appointments, and even to do normal household activities. My partner in parish nursing understood this and provided me with a book When God and Cancer Meet, by Lynn Eib (I now had time to read). This book encouraged me to learn to accept help and give back whenever I could. I handled this by keeping a ‘help directory’. When someone offered to help I wrote down the name and promised to call. When I did call, I offered them an ‘opportunity’ to help me. I discovered that friends and relatives appreciated having time with me and I appreciated becoming better acquainted with them. I discovered that being vulnerable provided the opportunity to develop these friendships, to show God’s love and to experience being loved for who I am and not for what I do.

I still found it important to do as many of my normal activities as I could, especially to fulfill my role as a parish nurse. Although I was not able to visit those in our congregation who were homebound or hospitalized, I was able to make phone calls. Now it became a situation of mutual support as they shared scripture and prayed with me as I did with them. I was now a member of “the club.” Prior to being diagnosed with cancer, I had committed to teaching a parish nursing (Faith Community Nursing) course. How could I do that now? Can you imagine my surprise when the other lead faculty member, our director, adjunct faculty and volunteers offered to do the planning in my home and a nearby student offered to drive me to class each of the 12 evening we would be meeting? It was going to be possible to fulfill my commitment; God had again answered my prayer!

James writes “ask the elders to pray for healing.” Even though my diagnosis was grave, I wanted the elders to pray for my healing. This was a very special time to again realize that God has ‘plans for good and not for evil’ (Jeremiah 29: ll) for me. I desired to live the rest of my life and not to merely survive. They and many others have prayed and continue to pray for me. Currently I am on a “chemo holiday.” I have been told that I will never be free of the cancer and to consider it a chronic illness. This means I can live with it but will probably be on and off of chemo therapy. I am doing well off of chemo at this time.

As God showed me how my relationship to Him was significant, I found that I could even more effectively encourage others as they faced life’s problems or would one day face problems. I definitely know I was and am not alone. The more comfortable I was with the fact that my life may be shortened and that I planned to live it out, the more comfortable my family and friends were being with me.

Isn’t it interesting that as we realize our mortality we can live fully and meaningfully. Christ gave us the commands to “. . . Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength . . . and your neighbor as yourself” (Mark 12:30-31). I can learn to do this. Learning to do this requires that I deal with the business at hand every day, especially relationships. There can be conflict, frustration, confusion as well as support and hope. Each day we deal with issues but we are not alone. As we trust God to meet our needs we are better able to love others and ourselves. Steven Covey in The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People emphasizes beginning with the end in mind. What is our end? We will be with Him forever. With Him, whether we live or die, we are in a win-win situation.

Dee Huanca, RN, BSN, MS, FCN
Parish Nurse
First Evangelical Free Church
5150 Chicago Ave.
South Minneapolis, MN 55425