PASCO, Wash. -- Starting in January of next year, Registered Nurses must demonstrate proof of having 531 practice hours in order to renew their license. The nurses who are retired, home with children or working few hours are needing to have a place to volunteer that will allow them to record up to 177 clinical hours per year. Without the clinical hours and continuing education (45 hours), the nurse will have their license rendered inactive.
Volunteering as a nurse is one method of meeting the practice hour requirement.
In the fall of 2012, Susan Campbell, an instructor at WSU Tri-Cities school of nursing began working with another a retired nurse volunteer, Jan Jacobson to organize a local chapter of the Faith Community Nurses.
This is a nationally recognized specialty within nursing. Faith Community Nurses volunteer in churches to provide health education, screening and coordination of services. In the early discussions of this group, they connected with the Union Gospel Mission and decided to incorporate the mission as a place for Faith Community Nurses to volunteer. Wednesday, January 23rd the network began volunteering at the Union Gospel Mission
"Volunteering at the Union Gospel Mission, that way the registered nurses can keep their practice hours, keep their license active and the nursing students get additional clinical practice hours in the community," said Campbell.
One homeless man was glad to see the nurses available, "Its not like I can just run down to the hospital, I don't have a regular doctor," he said after getting his blood pressure reading and help signed for a program to up to quit smoking.
Jan Jacobson is a volunteer nurse who retired four years ago after working in the field for 50 years. She said this is the perfect opportunity to earn clinical hours.
"You're serving a community that really needs and wants help. they're trying to get themselves straightened out," said Jacobson.
Campbell said their first day was a success. "Hydration for a sick baby, help with head lice for a child, sending a man to his physician who needed to be seen," she said.
This Wednesday the nurses teamed up with the Benton Franklin Health District to provide free flu shots, whooping cough vaccines and TB shots. Typically they assist the women and children from 9-11:30am and the men's shelter from 1-3 PM. They do everything from taking blood pressure to diabetes consulting to giving health information and advice to those who haven't seen a doctor in years.
"That someone would take their time to come down to east Pasco, hearing all the bad stuff and still be willing to look at our clients, it is impacting them positively," said Chariss Warner, a case manager for women's and children at the Mission.
Faith Community Nurses will be hosting a presentation by Dr. Deborah Patterson on Friday, Feb 8th. Dr. Patterson coordinates the Faith Community Nurses (aka Parish Nursing) in Oregon. She will be assisting us with developing a local chapter. We would like to let nurses know this option is available with benefits for their community, their church and keeping their license active.
WHEN: FRIDAY, February 8, 2013
TIME: 12 NOON - 2:30 p.m.
WHERE: WEST SIDE CHURCH LIBRARY
615 WRIGHT ST.
RICHLAND, WA
Lunch will be provided - RSVP very important!!!
If planning to attend, please RSVP to Jan Jacobson
e-mail: janyj@ix.netcom.com or call at: 628-3724.
Questions? Contact Jan or Susan Campbell at 509- 845-1980.
Source: http://www.nbcnews.com/id/50647713/ns/local_news-tri_cities_wa/
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