MissionDeaconess Parish Nurse Ministries and the International Parish Nurse Resource Center foster physical, emotional, spiritual, and social harmony leading to healthy and healing relationships with God, family, faith communities, culture, and creation.
The mission is accomplished in two ways:
- In the St. Louis metropolitan area, through support of quality parish nurse ministries, and
- In the United States and abroad, through education, consultation, and research to support the growth and development of parish nursing.
History
Parish Nursing in St. Louis was initiated in 1989 through the efforts of Rev. Dr. Richard Ellerbrake, CEO of Deaconess Health System, to commemorate the centennial of the founding of the Deaconess Sisterhood and the Deaconess mission in St. Louis. In March of 1995, the Deaconess Parish Nurse Program was recognized by the Council for Health and Human Service Ministries of the United Church of Christ as "Innovative Program of the Year."
In 1997, the Deaconess Parish Nurse Program became a part of the Deaconess Foundation and in May 2001, it became a separate entity, Deaconess Parish Nurse Ministries, L.L.C., with parish nurses serving nearly 50 sites in the St. Louis metropolitan area.
In 2002, Deaconess Parish Nurse Ministries became the home of the International Parish Nurse Resource Center, which was developed in 1986 at Lutheran General Health System, one of the predecessor organizations of Advocate Health Care. Under the direction of Ann Solari-Twadell, RN, Ph.D., MPA, FAAN, the organization grew to a strong leadership role in parish nurse education, research, and support.
The IPNRC moved to Deaconess Parish Nurse Ministries, a faith-based organization based in St. Louis, Missouri in 2001. It continues to sponsor the annual Westberg Parish Nurse Symposium, named for the founder of parish nursing, the Rev. Dr. Granger Westberg. The International Parish Nurse Resource Center has more than 122 Educational Partners around the United States and abroad, and is a leader in parish nurse education and consultation.
The St. Louis Evangelical Deaconess Sisterhood, 1891. Sister Superior Katherine Haack, front center, with Sisters Philippine Buehn, Lydia Daries, Louise Lix, Magdalene Gerhold, Charlotte Wellpot, and Sophie Brunner.