The Citizen, 1998-10-28, Page 7moi HEALTH SERVICES
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those in need of mental or physical healing. Though Parish
Nursing, founded in Wisconsin, is 10 years old, Janna's
graduating class was the first in Canada.
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THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 28, 1998. PAGE 7.
Parish nursing caring for body, soul
By Bonnie Gropp
Citizen staff
Mind over matter. An age-old
belief now based in scientific fact.
That a healthy spirit and refreshed
state of mind are good for physical
wellness is the principal behind
parish nursing, a 10-year-old
concept which began in Milwaukee,
WI.
Since June, members of Melville
Presbyterian Church, Brussels and
their neighbours have benefitted
from the compassion, advice and
expertise of Janna Speers-Dodds.
„ A nurse since 1982, natural health
consultant and certified
reflexologist since 1989, Janna was
approached by her minister Rev.
Cathrine Campbell about the idea of
parish nursing. "She wondered if I'd
be interested and I thought it was a
wonderful idea," says Janna.
"Up until the 1900s the church
looked after a person holistically,
body, mind and spirit. Even
conventional medicine realized that
if a person is troubled in mind their
body cannot heal."
She attended a one-week course
at McMaster University in Hamilton
with nurses from across Canada.
Mornings began with devotions,
where each student was asked to
share something meaningful for
them with the rest.
With much of the parish nurse's
work focussed on palliative care
there was a session on grief.
Another day-long class was on
humour and its effect on a person
physiologically. "Laughing helps
with the healing process," says
Janna.
Other topics touched on the
legalities and issues of running a
parish nurse clinic.
Upon her graduation, Janna
distributed a survey to Melville
congregation so she could identify
and prioritize what the needs were.
"The biggest was visitation for the
homebound and ill," she says.
But other issues stood out as well.
The need in this fast-paced world
for stress management among other
things proved that her services
could help everyone from infancy
and post-natal to palliative care.
With education being part of the
mandate, Janna will periodically be
holding clinics on a variety of
subjects. Beginning Oct. 29 at 9:30
a.m. in the church basement there
will be an Optimum Wellness
Clinic. Its focus is on incorporating
healthy choices into lifestyles. "We
are going to learn to eat the way
God intended us to. God did not
create Kraft dinner."
She will also educate people on
how to prevent disease, how to
engage in the healing process and
how to cope with chronic pain.
Promoting health in her own
community is important as well.
Addressing this, Janna has planned
a blood pressure screening clinic for
after the Sunday church service one
day. "You will get a truer reading
when people have been sitting
quietly for an hour."
Noting that her work .does not
overlap on that of any existing
health care agency, Janna says that
rather than hands-on treatment she
is a counselor, resource and
advocate. Though she would treat
someone in a medical emergency,
her work with many of those she
visits is simply to offer the type of
compassionate care expected of
nurses, but always looking to the
more spiritual side. She offers
reassurance, companionship and has
even taken communion with the
minister at a client's home.
She is also on the list at Wingham
Hospital for visitations and will
help clients and families locate and
utilize the appropriate community
resources, such as Community Care
Access, Meals on Wheels or
counselling services.
Though Janna is affiliated with
Melville, through which she is
guided and supported by a three-
member Health Support Cabinet,
she is quick to point out thit anyone
in need can contact her for an
appointment. "It is non-
denominational."
And strictly voluntary on her
part. Janna, who has a comfortable
income says, "I felt God gave me
this money for a reason. I am glad
that it allows me to do something
for people."
Working from three to eight hours
a week, Tuesday and Thursday
mornings, Janna says anyone who
needs to talk to someone for
medical and spiritual healing and
guidance is welcome to call for an
appointment. Her visits are not
exclusive to the client's home or
hospital room, but will see people at
her own home.
Quoting Plato, she explains her
dedication to the concept of parish
nursing. "As you ought not to
attempt to cure the eyes without the
head or the head without the body,
so neither ought you to attempt a
cure of the body without the soul...
for the part will never be well
unless the whole is well."