Health Ministry Education
The Pittsburgh Mercy Parish Nurse & Health Ministry Program offers heath ministry education for laypersons and health professionals who want to serve their faith communities. We’ll work with you to prepare programs that will meet the unique needs of your faith community or organization. We’ll also tailor topics to fit your learning needs.
Topics include, but are not limited to:
- Advocacy and Referral
- Building a Health Ministry Team
- Communication Skills
- Coordinating Volunteers
- Grief & Loss
- Promoting Health & Wellness in Your Faith Community
- What is Health Ministry?
- What is Visitation Ministry?
- How to Develop a Visitation Ministry Team.
Depending on the topic, health ministry education programs can last from two to six hours.
We encourage a minimum of 10 participants per program.
Health ministry education programs are offered at no cost to faith communities and faith-based organizations. However, to cover the costs of travel, education materials (hand-outs), and advertisement in “The Faith Connection,” our monthly e-newsletter, we gladly accept donations.
To design a health ministry education program to meet the needs of your faith community or organization, please contact us at 412-232-5815.
25th Annual Mercy Parish Nurse & Health Ministry Symposium
“Celebrating Health Ministry: Our Past, Present, and Future”
The Pittsburgh Mercy Parish Nurse & Health Ministry Program invites persons interested in whole-person health to attend the 25th Annual Mercy Parish Nurse and Health Ministry Symposium, “Celebrating Health Ministry: Our Past, Present, and Future.” The event will be held:
Saturday, October 28, 2017
9 a.m. to 1:45 p.m.
Sister M. Ferdinand Clark Auditorium
Building C, Level 2
1400 Locust Street
Pittsburgh, PA 15219-5144
The symposium provides continuing education, resources, and networking opportunities to individuals who are interested in starting or enhancing health ministries in their faith communities, as well as the general public.
Who Should Attend
The symposium is open to the general public. The event may be especially meaningful and relevant to the work of:
- Faith community nurses and parish nurses
- Faith community nurses and parish nurses
- Registered nurses
- Certified registered nurse practitioners
- Clergy
- Health and social service professionals
- Health, pastoral, and social ministers
- Health educators
- Licensed professional counselors
- Nursing students
- Pharmacists
- Pharmacy students
- Physicians
- Seminarians
- Social service professionals.
What Participants Will Learn
Faith community nursing and health ministry practitioners are on the frontline of well-being and healing for many at-risk individuals in today’s health care environment. Health ministry is an integral avenue for providing education, resources, networking, and support. Due to various societal challenges, people are turning to faith community nurses and health ministers to learn more about spiritual health and whole-person care.
In keeping with the theme of the symposium, the event will focus on:
- The past
The history, roots, and legacy of the faith community nursing and health ministry movement
- The present
The rewards of service, how faith community nurses and health ministers serve important roles in their faith communities, current trends in health ministries, and strategies for positive outcomes
- The future
The dynamic vision for the future of health ministry and spiritual care practices, and how the future will shape opportunities for those involved in faith community nursing and health ministry.
Additionally, the symposium will explore:
- Important trends in wholistic (whole-person) health care
- Cultural competency
- Diversity appreciation
- Complex community needs
- Addiction
- Pain management
- Behavioral health.
Upon completion of the symposium, participants will be able to:
- Describe three historical milestones in the faith-health movement
- Explain events that have positively influenced health ministries and the faith community nursing practice
- Identify emerging trends in health ministry and spiritual care.
About Our Featured Speaker
Marlene Feagan, MA, BSN, RN-BC, is president of Health Ministries Association, Inc. and health ministries coordinator at St. Elizabeth Healthcare in Northern Kentucky, where she has worked for more than 30 years.
Consistent with the theme of our symposium and the title of her speech, “Celebrating Health Ministry: Our Past, Present, and Future,” Feagan has worked in the past, is involved in the present, and is preparing for the future of health ministry. In 1997, she developed and implemented the Parish Nursing/Health Ministries Program at St. Elizabeth Healthcare to establish a wholistic wellness and prevention program to serve area faith communities. In 2006, she extended the program to provide health ministry services in several community-based locations to provide care to the underserved.
A native of Northern Kentucky, Feagan earned a master’s degree in pastoral studies from the College of Mount St. Joseph in Cincinnati, Ohio. She completed a certificate in gerontology from the University of Kentucky’s Sanders-Brown Center on Aging. She went on to develop the community-based Geriatric Care Management Program, a unique faith-based, medical model program, for St. Elizabeth Healthcare.
Feagan has served the Health Ministries Association, Inc., both locally and nationally, in several key positions. She is currently serving a second term as president of the organization and is co-chairperson for the 2017 Health Ministries Conference. She has served on the work group of the “Scope and Standards of Practice for Faith Community Nursing,” a peer-reviewed publication for faith community nurses, for the last two editions.
She also has served as a local, regional, and national speaker and author on topics that include:
- Interest in the faith and health movement
- Spirituality
- Spirituality in nursing
- The specialty practice of faith community nursing
- Older adult issues
- Diversity
- Collaborative approaches to meeting community health needs.
Continuing Education Credits
Registered nurses who attend the entire session and complete the course evaluation form will receive a certificate and three continuing education (CE) credits.
UPMC is accredited as a provider of continuing nursing education by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s (ANCC’s) Commission on Accreditation. UPMC and ANCC do not endorse any commercial products as a result of the continuing education (CE) activity.
Cost
The cost for the symposium varies:
- $20 for undergraduate nursing students, seminarians, and religious clergy
- $30 for those who do not wish to receive continuing education credits
- $40 for registered nurses who wish to receive continuing education credits.
The cost includes brunch and free parking in UPMC Mercy’s Locust Street Parking Garage (entrance located at Locust and Stevenson streets).
Registration
Registration is accepted by U.S. mail.
Seating capacity is limited. Early registration is encouraged. The deadline to register is Friday, October 13, 2017.
Download the course registration form
Payment
Please make your check payable to Pittsburgh Mercy. Mail with your completed registration form to:
Pittsburgh Mercy Parish Nurse & Health Ministry Program
c/o UPMC Mercy Health Center
1515 Locust Street, Suite 705
Pittsburgh, PA 15219-5144
For more information about the 25th Annual Pittsburgh Mercy Parish Nurse & Health Ministry Symposium, please contact us at 412-232-5815.
Day Retreat
“Nurturing Body, Mind, and Spirit”
Saturday, April 14, 2018
8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
St. Paul of the Cross Passionist Retreat Center
148 Monastery Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15203-1452
About the Retreat
The Pittsburgh Mercy Parish Nurse & Health Ministry Program invites the public to attend “Nurturing Body, Mind, and Spirit,” a one-day, spiritual retreat to provide time away from family, work, and church responsibilities, and where participants can enrich their souls and embrace a new season … spring!
The retreat begins with breakfast at 8 a.m, followed by the opening session at 8:45 a.m. The retreat ends at 3:30 p.m. Lunch is in silence, giving time and space for self-reflection. Participants are invited to a time of prayer, solitude, quiet reflection, learning, and fellowship.
Self-care, learning, and self-exploration opportunities are the focus of the six-hour inspirational retreat.
Located in scenic South Pittsburgh community of Mt. Oliver, the St. Paul of the Cross Passionist Retreat Center is a peaceful, spiritual environment that offers participants sacred time needed for refreshing the spirit and recharging the mind. Attendees are encouraged to use this opportunity, as coordinated by the retreat facilitators, to deepen their knowledge of God, self, and service.
Each participant is asked to bring one item to share that is meaningful in their life, such as a family photo, a childhood toy, a family heirloom, or a treasured book, such as a family Bible. Also, in silent reflection, each participant will be given time to create an artistic spiritual board to take home for further personal self-reflection.
Who Should Attend
The retreat is open to the general public. The event may be especially meaningful and relevant to:
- Faith community nurses and parish nurses
- Registered Nurses
- Certified registered nurse practitioners
- Clergy, religious, and laity
- Health and social service professionals
- Health, pastoral, and social ministers
- Health educators
- Licensed professional counselors
- Physicians.
Handicap accessibility is available upon request. If you need special accommodations in order to attend this event, kindly let us know in writing by April 1, 2018.
About the Facilitators
The retreat will be facilitated by Pittsburgh Mercy Parish Nurse & Health Ministry Program staff members, all of whom are faith community nurses experienced in nursing, education, faith community nursing, church ministry, spiritual care, spiritual direction, and servant leadership. Each brings their own unique style and creativity to the design of this retreat:
- Sister Rebecca Nolan, OP, BSN, MA, RN
- Amy Armanious, DNP, MSN, MSOL, RN
- Linda Burkett, DNP, MSN, RN.
Cost
The cost for the retreat is:
- $75: Includes the day retreat, breakfast, lunch, parking, and art supplies.
- $140: Includes the day retreat, breakfast, lunch, parking, art supplies, and one night’s accommodation for those who wish to stay overnight at the retreat center on Friday, April 13, 2018. Friday dinner is not included.
Limited partial scholarships are available upon request.
Registration
Early registration is encouraged. Reservations are limited to 20 participants.
Download the retreat registration form
Payment
Send your completed registration form along with a check made payable to:
Pittsburgh Mercy Parish Nurse & Health Ministry Program
Mercy Health Center
1515 Locust Street, Suite 705
Pittsburgh, PA 15219-5154
Completed registration forms and payment must be received by April 5, 2018.
For more information about our Day Retreat, please contact us at 412-232-5815.
Faith Community Nurse & Health Ministry Educational Meetings
“Spiritual Care: Becoming a Healing Presence”
The Pittsburgh Mercy Parish Nurse & Health Ministry Program is offering new Faith Community Nurse & Health Ministry Educational Meetings to individuals in the tri-state area that will provide contact hours for registered nurses and valuable information for others who attend. Faith community nurses, health ministers, registered nurses, clergy/laity, and anyone interested in learning more about the wholistic care approach (balancing body, mind, and spirit) and making a commitment to educating individuals in their faith communities are welcome to attend. The meetings will emphasize the importance of networking, fellowship, learning, and peer support for faith community nurses and health ministers as they assist their congregations and local communities on a path to better health.
The parish nurse program specialists will focus on the intentional care of the spirit in the practice of faith community nursing and health ministry. At the meeting, attendees can explore spirituality along with the means of spiritual assessment and learn how to provide spiritual care for individuals, families, and communities. Since spiritual care flows from the provider, there is an emphasis on the need for faith community nurses and health ministers to understand their own spirits and the importance of tending to one’s own spiritual journey before attempting to guide others.
Light refreshments will be provided.
Upon completion, participants will be able to:
- Distinguish between spirituality and religion.
- Integrate faith and health to provide spiritual care to individuals, families, and communities.
- Use a framework for spiritual assessment to discern spiritual needs.
- Identify resources for continuous personal spiritual growth and self-care.
Cost
This educational offering is free for those who do not wish to receive continuing educational credits. The cost is $10 for registered nurses who wish to receive continuing education credits. A check may be mailed in advance or cash may be paid at the door. If paying in advance by check, please make check payable to Pittsburgh Mercy Parish Nurse & Health Ministry Program and mail to:
Pittsburgh Mercy Parish Nurse & Health Ministry Program
Mercy Health Center
1515 Locust Street, Suite 705
Pittsburgh, PA 15219-5154
Please enclose a note to indicate which session you plan to attend.
Locations
The participant is encouraged to attend the location nearest their church in order to benefit from peer support and local community resources. The same program will be offered at each location. Registration will begin 30 minutes before the program start time. Dates and locations are as follows:
- Natrona Heights: Thursday, April 26, 2018; 5:30 p.m. registration, 6 to 8 p.m. at the Allegheny-Kiski Health Foundation (main conference room), 1 Acee Drive, Natrona Heights, PA 15065.
- Aliquippa: Wednesday, May 2, 2018; 5:30 p.m. registration, 6 to 8 p.m. at Saint Frances Cabrini Parish (Rectory Meeting House), 115 Trinity Drive, Aliquippa, PA 15001.
- Bethel Park: Saturday, May 5, 2018; 9:30 a.m. registration, 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Christ United Methodist Church (room to be determined), 44 Highland Road, Bethel Park, PA 15102.
- Penn Hills: Monday, May 21, 2018; 5:30 p.m. registration, 6 to 8 p.m. at Zion Lutheran Church of Penn Hills (main hall), 11609 Frankstown Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15235.
Continuing Education Credits
Two continuing education (CE) credits, also known as contact hours, will be provided to registered nurses who attend. Participants who attend the entire session and complete an evaluation form will be awarded a certificate and two continuing education credits.
The University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) is accredited as a provider of continuing nursing education by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation (ANCC). UPMC and ANCC do not endorse any commercial products as a result of this CE activity.
Registration
Advance registration is required.
For more information or to register, please contact us at 412-232-5815.
