Arlita Jewell and Sherman Allen part their visits with prayer. Both attend First Presbyterian Church in Baker City. (Baker City Herald/S. John Collins).

By LISA BRITTON

Baker City Herald

Arlita Jewell understands that sometimes people just need to know someone cares.

Which explains why Jewell’s home visits to check in, to chat make up most of her part-time job as the parish health advocate at First Presbyterian Church.

andquot;Visitations to people who need to see people, who need to know they’re thought of in the community,andquot; Jewell says.

This program is patterned after the parish nurse ministry, which began in Chicago in 1985. A parish nurse is, generally, a registered nurse who counsels members of the congregation on health issues, helps promote healthy lifestyles and provides information about health resources in the community.

Jewell is a certified nursing assistant (CNA), which is why her position is termed andquot;parish health advocate.andquot; She worked previously at St. Luke’s Medical Center in Boise and the Mountain States Tumor Institute hospice program where, under supervision of a registered nurse, she tended to the daily care of patients.

Jewell most recently worked in small group homes in the Boise area.

A year-long search

First Presbyterian started searching for a parish nurse in 2006 at the request of Anne Kirkpatrick. Anne’s husband, Bruce, died in March 2006, and memorial contributions in his name were directed to the church.

Although the church advertised for the job, no one applied for about a year, said the Rev. Susan Barnes of First Presbyterian.

Then Jewell moved back to Baker City this past September and applied for the job.

She was hired, and in late October she attended a 40-hour course on parish nursing in Hillsboro. Upon completion she was registered with Northwest Parish Nurse Ministries.

The course covered qualifications for a parish nurse, such as respecting privacy, advocating for people, compiling community resources, reporting to the pastor and deacons, attending church at least once a month to report, and the willingness to attain more education.

The course also covered the spiritual aspect of parish nursing.

andquot;I already had that, but it reinforced I could use it,andquot; Jewell says.

Help also came from Robin Ostermann, the parish nurse at La Grande’s First Presbyterian Church.

Meeting physical and spiritual needs

Jewell says she is right where she wants to be, helping tend to the physical and spiritual needs of the Presbyterian congregation and the community.

As a parish health advocate, Jewell cannot administer any hands-on treatment, but she can assess ailments and suggest the person see a doctor if needed.

andquot;If they’re sick enough, I’ll actually drive them to the doctor,andquot; she says.

Jewell also is certified in CPR, so can respond in an emergency.

andquot;Any Good Samaritan can do that,andquot; she says.

Listening, she says, is the largest part of her job.

andquot;I listen to them listen to their story and see if they have needs they aren’t telling.andquot;

She visits the young and elderly and all ages in between.

andquot;I can call on the phone, that’s the number one thing,andquot; she says. andquot;Just letting them know I was thinking of them.andquot;

During visits she will also share a prayer.

andquot;This job has helped me come back to my spiritual center,andquot; she says.

In addition to caring for members of the Presbyterian Church, Jewell also visits residents at Settler’s Park and Meadowbrook Place.

She has also compiled a library of health-related resources in the community, and will offer a blood pressure clinic once a month after Sunday worship. The first clinic is Jan. 20.

Jewell said she can also offer suggestions to other churches interested in beginning a parish nurse (or health advocate) program. For more information, call the church at 523-5201.