Parish Nurse
Our Parish Nurse provides health ministry in the congregation – focusing on wellness, wholeness, and support during health crises and life transitions. This part-time service is offered by a Registered Nurse who is a member of the congregation.
Questions? Contact Ann Yeo.
- By secure phone message. Call (360) 786-6383, extension 108 and leave a message.
- By e-mail message at OUUCParishNurse@gmail.com
- NOTE: Contacting the nurse by text message is not possible at this time. Also, to protect your confidentiality and her “time off duty,” it’s usually best not to use her home phone or her personal e-mail address.
What is a Parish Nurse? Why do we have a Parish Nurse at OUUC? Where does she “fit” in the congregation?
A Parish Nurse (also known as a Faith Community Nurse) is a licensed Registered Nurse who has completed a Foundations of Faith Community Nursing course and provides health ministry in the congregation – focusing on wellness, wholeness, and support during health crises and life transitions.
Parish nursing at OUUC helps to meet some of our congregation’s Ends:
- “People of all ages, identities, and circumstances are welcomed and connected in our loving community.” Caring for each other at times of health crisis or life transition promotes and strengthens loving connections.
- “The Olympia Unitarian Universalist Congregation responds to the needs of a changing congregation and world.” Supporting the infirm and the aging among us responds to the needs of our changing congregation.
- “We work for environmental justice and practice care for the earth.” Promoting healthful lifestyles ultimately reduces our draw on the earth’s resources.
At OUUC, the volunteer, part-time Parish Nurse is
- Part of the Community Life Ministry, with a link to the Spiritual Life Ministry;
- Responsible to the Community Life Coordinator and the Minister.
What services does the Parish Nurse offer at OUUC?
For members and friends of OUUC, the nurse offers free, professional nursing services, including (but not limited to):
- Information-sharing and encouragement for optimal health and well-being.
- On-the-spot assessment and referral for revealed problems such as abuse or risk of suicide.
- Acute response (as a Good Samaritan) to accident or sudden illness if she is present.
- Maintenance of the first-aid kit in the church.
- Involvement in disaster planning for the community.
- Referrals to helpful resources – if requested.
- Supportive accompaniment to medical appointments – if requested.
- Supportive visits – if requested.
What services does the Parish Nurse not offer?
- Provision of medical diagnosis or prescription of medications
- Injections, laboratory tests, wound care, or other care that requires direction by a physician, physician’s assistant, nurse practitioner, or licensed midwife
- Care that would otherwise be provided by a home health or hospice agency
May the Parish Nurse provide services to minors (under age 18)?
- Both Washington State law and OUUC’s Safe Congregation Policy apply here.
- In this state, (a) age 13 is the legal age of consent for mental health treatment; (b) age 14 is the legal age of consent for testing and treatment of sexually-transmitted infections; (c) there is no minimum, legal age of consent for reproductive health services.
- Therefore, the Parish Nurse may talk to minors who have concerns about mental health, STD’s, birth control, or pregnancy – with or without a parent present. If a parent is not present, the nurse will notify a parent (or the Director of Religious Education) that a conversation occurred; but will reveal no further information unless there’s danger of harm to the minor or others. Any meeting without a parent will occur in a public setting.
How does a member or friend of the congregation contact the Parish Nurse?
- In person at the church
- By secure phone message at (360) 786-6383, extension 108 and leave a message.
- By e-mail message at OUUCParishNurse@gmail.com
- NOTE: Contacting the nurse by text message is not possible at this time. To protect confidentiality and personal boundaries, please do not use her home phone or personal e-mail address.
Is the Parish Nurse available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week?
- She volunteers her services on a part-time basis; therefore, she is not available 24 / 7.
- She checks and returns phone and e-mail messages regularly – usually daily. If she will not be available for more than a day or two, she will notify the congregation.
Who is our Parish Nurse at this time?
- Ann Yeo, a Registered Nurse with a Master of Science in Nursing degree
- A retired Army nurse, a retired midwife, a former hospice volunteer, and now a Certified Holistic Nurse
- An active member of OUUC since 2001