Rev. David Dillard, M.Div., is a Psychiatric Chaplain at Central State Hospital, Louisville KY. He is ordained out of the Jeff Street Baptist Community at Liberty in Louisville and is a graduate of St. John's College, (Annapolis, MD) and Southern Seminary. David is currently pursuing his Doctorate in Ministry with specialization in Pastoral Counseling and Marriage and Family Therapy at the Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary

In designing a program for the Kentuckiana area, I had to look realistically at the time and expense involved. A program like the eight-day certificate program I had attended at Marquette University was not an option. The nurses I know lead very busy lives, caring for their families and going to full time jobs. This meant that most could not afford the time or the money for such an extensive program. Another factor was that many of the nurses were unaware of a very important aspect of parish nursing --pastoral care. They were comfortable with their nursing skills, but did not realize that the pastoral care element was just as important to this position. I felt that by providing the nurses with a short 15-hour course divided into five sessions they would be both more willing and financially able to attend.

My theory was proven correct as the nurses attending the course realized ministering to their church members with their nursing skills was not a problem. They had the understanding of the medical system and the required nursing skills to perform the five roles of a parish nurse. Those nurses who attended the introductory course realized, not only what they were lacking and needed, but also what they had a great desire for: more education in Scripture, pastoral care, and a basic understanding of the everyday operations of a church institution. Out of this need the Intermediate Certificate Program in Parish Nursing was developed.

When I first began my career in parish nursing back in 1993, it was as a coordinator of programs within two Catholic Churches here in Louisville. It was always exciting to see the interest of the volunteer nurses, but at the same time discouraging to learn of their time constraints. There were so many things they wanted to do, but these nurses knew how busy they already were and that their priorities had to be with their families and jobs. The challenge was to go with something these nurses felt was manageable for them.

Over the past seven years of my involvement with parish nurses, I have discovered it is the lack of money that prevents more nurses from becoming involved in this ministry. As I look back over the history of parish nursing here in the Kentuckiana area and see how far we have come, my faith in the workings of the Holy Spirit tells me that someday more churches will provide a salary for their parish nurse. And I see it as another one of those win-win situations in which the nurses, the churches, their members, and the surrounding community will all benefit.

There are new exciting things happening in the Kentuckiana area that will affect the future of parish nursing.

Bea Keller is a Sister of Charity of Nazareth. She received nursing degrees from Highland Park Community College, Highland Park, Michigan and Mercy College of Detroit, Michigan; a graduate degree in Holistic Health Education from John F. Kennedy University in California; and a certificate in parish nursing from Marquette University, Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Her career in parish nursing began in 1993. Presently she is a parish nurse educator and consultant and teaches the Parish Nurse Certificate Programs at Spalding University in Louisville, KY.