Wonderful First Meeting

This past Saturday we had our first Get-Together and we really had a great time!  There were twelve of us total. We started at 10am and went strong for four hours.  We enjoyed lunch and just kept right on talking. What fun. Sorry, for everyone that missed this opportunity.


We started by each person introducing themselves, what church they were from, a little information
about their journey with Parish Nursing and where they were headed. Then we each shared at least five ideas/events/endeavors we tried in our church. This was wonderful and everyone came away with new excitement. After lunch we kept going, with our own Show and Tell. This was the most fun and Virginia gave us all a sample of the most beautiful newsletter, that she uses. Wow, thanks Virginia for sharing.


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We had this first meeting in my Clubhouse at The Cosmopolitan Apartments at Town Center in Virginia Beach.  This room was fun, because it was cozy and we had ovens for cooking our lunch and even an ice machine.   However, I think if we get over twenty people at a meeting, we better move to our church on Little Neck.

We did decide to meet quarterly and I already have the room reserved for the following dates:

.....Saturday Jan. 9th, Saturday April 9th, Saturday July 9th and Saturday October 8th......

Seven other nurses emailed me of their interest in future meetings and that would make twenty, so
I will take reservations for the January meeting and do a first come basis. We all decided to make
it a covered dish meeting, which is always fun.


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Please remember that I have talents, other than typing and editing this blog. If you think of something I should have said, or something to post, just email me at SusanSaundersRN@cox.net. I did promise to put some pictures (our wheelchair/backpack pic) on here, but I have to get help from my daughter first.  

Hugs and Blessings, Susan

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Meeting Tomorrow

Please remember we have our meeting tomorrow from 9-12 noon. See you there!

It's Almost Spring

Oh, I am so glad that Spring is around the corner. We had a wonderful meeting on Saturday of all the Faith Community Nurses in the area. We had seven speakers who presented us with awesome resources for our congregations. Please make the effort to attend these meetings.

I also wanted to tell you that this week and next week HBO is showing documentaries on Addiction. They are a must for every nurse, every parent, every young person to watch. Go to HBO.com and click on Film Schedule to find all the viewing times. You can also purchase the four disc set. This is really an important tool to have.

Bless your work and enjoy our nice weather.

Onward to February We Go!

Hello to Everyone, I am very sorry if you missed our first function of the new year which was "Reaching Out and Recognizing Mental Illness in Our Faith Communities". It was absolutely awesome. We did two presentations. We were in Hampton in November and Norfolk on January 20th. We reached over 100 people with needed information.

I am waiting to hear from Lisa on what is upcoming. As soon as I have the news I will print it on the blog. Have a blessed day!

Christmas Party

Milt and I would like to invite you to our home

for a

Faith Community Nurses Open House

Saturday December 23rd from 11 am to 1pm

Please bring your favorite dish to share.

If you have other nurses in your faith community that are thinking

about joining us,

please don't hesitate to bring them along.

Please RSVP at 484-5000 or SusanSaundersRN@cox.net

Directions at MapQuest.com

2975 Bruce Station

Chesapeake, VA 23321

Welcome Back Everyone!

Wow, what an awful time I have had trying to get things going again. First Blogger was not working for days and days. Then my computer went down and finally today Milt and Cox Cable worked together and got everything moving. We have a lot to tell you so check us out every day.......please!

Mental Health -Faith Communities

Don't forget to attend today's meeting from 9-12 noon at Mary Immaculate Hospital. I am sorry I forgot to put this reminder on earlier.

News in Brief

Don't for the American Cancer Society has their "Making Strides Against Breast Cancer" walk on Saturday October 28 starting at 9am (Harbor Park). This is for families, kids, strollers, etc. so get out there and walk!

Put this date on your calendar - November 11th from 9-12noon at Mary Immaculate Hospital.
This is an awesome program called "Reaching Out and Recognizing Mental Illness in our Faith Communities". This is for you, your congregation, your clergy, your friends. These five dynamic speakers will fill you with knowledge of what to do, how to help, and where to go to seek assistance for mental health issues that touch our lives. The newest statistic is that one out of every five people will have some type of mental illness. Please, this might be you, your child, a parent, a relative, a worker.......come and learn what to do.

Note To Everyone and also "Our Family Helpers"

From time to time during the next four weeks I need to use this blog to write to my "Family Helpers". We are males, females, young and "mature" helpers from various churches, in our neighborhood, who have all come together to help a family in crisis. When I make my calls everyone wants to know how things are going and I wear out my whistle talking, sooooo I decided to use our blog, ocasionally, for this purpose.

Thursday Sept 14,

I met with the family today. Everything is going as planned. Last week we had established four objectives:
1. Meals - Monday thru Friday - starting 9-11-06
2. Organizing the garage and moving furniture
3. Putting doors on the dining room opening
4. Sitters - Monday thru Friday 9-6 for the next three weeks

As of today, they have received meals for three nights and I just can't even explain how this has helped.
Our "Family Helpers" are feeding three adults and two children every night. Hurrah for our great meal organizer and our cooks! Objective One Completed.

This past Saturday a whole team of helpers showed up to help our husband. The garage got organized, cleaned and furniture moved. Hurrah to our organizer and team members.
Objective Two Completed

We are waiting for the doors to come in and then we will work on Objective Three.

Objective Four will begin this coming Monday. I met with the family today (which includes a Parish Nurse who has been living with them). We all talked about some suggestions for our "Family Sitters".
1. Our 9AM people need to arrive about 10-15" early so Dad can get the children to daycare by 9AM.
2. We cannot leave Mom by herself....so please don't leave until the person coming after you is there. (Everyone's phone number is in the blue folder at the house).
3. Please do not talk about illness...Mom's or yours....Be positive
4. Remember to keep the house peaceful and quiet.
5. Mom gets tired just going across the room. She will nap around 2pm and the three year old will nap at the same time. The four year old and the baby (two months) will need to be watched.
(They are sweet, sweet little girls....all three) You will get a lot of hugs!
6. Dad wants Mom to reprimand the girls. Mom and Dad are firm and consistent with their parenting.
6. Dad may come in and out during the day but he still needs us there.
7. Wear cool comfortable clothing.
8. Please don't bring children or anyone with you. With all the toys and baby swings, carriers, etc. there is not room.

The Parish Nurse (from Baltimore Maryland) and I hope these notes will help everyone. (The Parish Nurse will be leaving this weekend)

Remember...We are blessed to have this family intact and each of you are blessed for being a part of this family's history.

Call me if you need me, but remember I am an hour traveling time from you. Susan

Traveling Hairdresser - Keep this number handy!

We finally have a young lady who has decided to take her talents and help people in their homes.
Yes, Jane Hixon's daughter Julee has been a hairdresser for over 14 years. She brings all the necessary items to wash, cut, and style hair. What a wonderful resource she will be to all of us in this area! Jane said her rates are very reasonable. Julee gives a discount for other members of the family if she is already at the home. Please use her services!

This is the information from Julee's business card.
Julee's Creations
Complete line of hair care services performed in the comfort of your home
Call for an appointment
Cell 757-617-8517
Home 757-549-4099
Julee Hixon
I bring the salon to you!

(Remember: The information on a blog rotates and archives each month. You can recall any past information by using the search box at the top of the blog. It will then search through the archives for you.)

Va Peninsula Dental Community Day

Date: October 6 and 7, 2006 Friday and Saturday
Where: Peninsula Christian Free Clinic
5100 Marshall Avenue
Newport News, VA 23607
Time: 8AM till 5PM with Registration starting at 6AM

Target Population: Primarily Adults, Children are on a case by case basis (300 Patients Total)

Eligibility: No financial screening, Patient must have no dental insurance. Patients will fill out intake and patient history.

Scheduling: Walk-In but some Group appointments (shelters, etc.) will be made.

Other Services at Event: Visual and Audiological Screening

Sponsored By: Peninsula Christian Free Clinic (Host); Olde Towne Medical Center; Lackey Free Family Medicine Clinic; PICH; Operation Breaking Through: Operation Blessing); H.E.L.P. Free Clinic; Gloucester-Mathews Free Clinic

Note: They are in need of both professional and lay volunteers. Individuals who wish to donate their time should contact the Volunteer Coordinator at Peninsula Christian Free Clinic by calling 380-0288, press 1 then 5.

Time For A Funeral

Sorry about the break in the postings, but my ex-husband died on Sunday and I need to go to the funeral tomorrow. This weekend I will be posting all new information. Please stay tuned.

Spiritual Gifts Workshop

Have you ever completed a spiritual gifts inventory to assess what your Spiritual Gifts and Passions are? Perhaps you have but it's been a while - have your gifts changed?

A Spiritual Gifts Workshop will be presented by Linnea Nilsen Capshaw. Ms. Capshaw, a coach, facilitator, consultant and trainer from the EQUIPPING THE CHURCH MOVEMENT works with faith-based organizations and congregations nationally. We will not only discover our own spiritual gifts and passions, but will learn how to assess and implement a system of involvement for our volunterrs, to empower them rather than burn them out, transforming them into wise and bold ministers for Christ.

When: Saturday, 26 August 2006
Where: Trinity United Methodist Church, 228 29th Street Newport News, VA 23607
Cost: $5.00 (includes lunch and material)
Registration: Call Trinity's office at 757-244-4051 or email pastorsam1@aol.com
no later than Wednesday August 23rd
Nursing Contact Hours (5.4) applied for through Bon Secours Hampton Roads

Two New Books

Did you know that two of our Faith Community Nurses have published books recently? Yes, I already purchased one and I hope you will too. Here is the information:

MILITARY WIDOW - A Survival Guide
by Joanne M. Steen, MS, NCC and M. Regina Asaro, MS,RN,CT
Regina is a Faith Community Nurse from Hampton Roads, VA and you can reach her by email at regina@militarywidow.com or go to www.militarywidow.com

Our other author is Doris Young and her book will be available very soon. I will keep you posted when Doris's book is ready to purchase. Stay tuned!

Motorized Scooter

A lady from our church (St. Nicholas Catholic Church) wants to donate a motorized scooter to someone who could use it. Please email me immediately if you are interested.
SusanSaundersRN@cox.net

The Good, The Bad and The Ugly

Our Faith Community Nurse, Kelly Good, has recommended this seminar that is coming to Norfolk on August 26th. It is about the surprisingly large role of halogens in both our wellness and dysfunction (Iodine -Bromine, Chlorine - Fluorine). Kelly said you need to register right away if you would like to attend. For more information or to register go to their website at http://www.xymogen.com

Attention All Medical Reserve Corps Volunteers!

If you are a Medical Reserve Corps Volunteer, and all of us should be, there is going to be a:

Pan/Flu Survival Workshop (Pandemic Influenza) (AKA Bird Flu) sponsored by the Virginia Department of Health on August 22, 2006. It will be during the day.

If interested, or for more information email Christina.Eschert@vdh.virginia.gov and tell her you heard about it through our blog.

Good Morning - It's August

It seems that August is already here. We have been on vacation and time really goes quickly when you are having great fun. I hope you have been able to "get away" this summer. Well, it's time for me to get in gear again.

This week I will be loading a lot of new information to www.FaithCommunityNurses.com and
this blog.....please try to read it at least once each week. We are having great comments from those who are using it.

If you have anything you want to add, please email me at SusanSaundersRN@cox.net I will get it right on!

Have a great day and stay blessed! Susan

Interesting Information

Just had an email from a nurse I met at the Antibiotic Drill. She found three sites for an online parish nurse course. I have not had a chance to look at these...maybe you would like to.

http://www.elearn.wvu.edu/Continuing/ParishNurse Prep.html
(Basic course at University of West Virginia)
http://www.elearn.wvu.edu/Continuing/AdvParishNurse Prep.html
(Advanced course)
http://www.nursing.slu.edu/cne_parish_nurse_home.html
(Basic course at St. Louis University)
This last one has underlines between these words
cne_parish_nurse_home.html

Thanks Linda, I hope you emailed Pam and will join our group!

Mass Antibiotic Dispensing Drill

I just wanted you to know that Milt and I are an active part of our Chesapeake Medical Reserve Corps and on Thursday July 13th we were part of our second mock "dispensing drill". This year the story was that an airplane flew over Chesapeake with a plume of Anthrax behind it. The Public Health Department, the Medical Reserve Corps (MRC), the Citizens Emergency Response Team (CERT) Chesapeake Police, Fire and Rescue were all there....working together. We probably had even more groups that assisted that I did not recognize. It was very revealing, somewhat scary and a little fun.

We completed two shifts. I was shift one. I was assigned to a mass, quick dispensing table. Our goal was to move thousands, upon thousands of people QUICKLY through a maze of three lines. One line for Doxycycline, one line for allergies to Doxycycline, pregnant or nursing, or under 9 years old, and one line for medical evaluation. I was line two.

We had four Registered Nurses and one supervisor. Then the people came...whew...they came with all sorts of problems, mental issues, fainting, loss of a child, deaf, can't speak English. We even had a person steal a whole box of medication and ran for the door. It really tests all your faculties at one time. You have to be quick and learn you "alone" cannot control the situation. It is a great "team" excercise. Some of the other nurses, and myself, had difficultly not taking control of any given situation. You must go ONLY to your supervisor for everything. It is a chain of command exercise.

I really want to encourage you to be a part of this wonderful extension of nursing. Milt and I feel it is our duty as a citizen to use our knowledge and expertise to help our fellow man. Please join your local chapter. I have all the names and numbers. Don't wait to be called. Just email me at SusanSaundersRN@cox.net.