IC PARISH NURSE NEWSLETTER
Fall 2014 Volume 1 Issue 4
IC PARISH NURSE MISSION STATEMENT: To enhance the overall health of our parishioners (mind, body, spirit) with a focus on integrating the practice of faith with the practice of nursing.
SUCCESS STORIES
As Parish nurses, our mission is to enhance the health of our parishioners. We hope we are doing that, in ways big and small. Maybe you learned one new little fact or tip from our newsletters. Maybe you came to one of our programs and left with new information and tools to deal with an illness, or just to promote better health for yourself and family. Maybe you are monitoring your blood pressure in between doctor visits at our monthly b/p clinics. We hope you are taking advantage of any or all of these things. Because of the b/p clinics, one person was diagnosed with hypertension and heart disease that she was previously unaware of. Because we gave out free glucometers, another person found out he was a type 2 diabetic and is now getting treated. He actually came to one of our meetings to thanks us. We asked him what he would like to tell the people of the parish, and he said, “Listen to your body, pay attention to your health,andtake advantage of what the parish nurses are offering.”And several more people were able to get treated for skin problems because of they came to the skin screening program. We have listened to your suggestions for other types of health programs and have plans for many more programs in the coming months. So PLEASE take advantage of these, and help us continue our mission.
PROGRAMS
In August, Dr. Lori Angotti and Dr. C. Liebig conducted a program regarding eye health. Vision acuity and pressure testing was available. 11 Participants attended this program. The evaluations were extremely favorable. Six (6) or 55 % of participants completed evaluations. On a scale of 1-5, with 1 being the lowest and 5 being the highest, 83% rated the program as a 5.
The Blood Pressure Clinics continues to be held monthly. 67 million or 1 in 3 adults suffer from High Blood Pressure. Of these, only 50 % are controlled. Nearly 1 in 3adults has pre High Blood Pressure. In 2009, 348,000 deaths were attributed to High Blood Pressure as the Primary Diagnosis. 1 in 5 adults over 60 are not aware that they have High Blood Pressure. After age 65, more women than men are affected but before age 45, more men than women are affected. Prevention and detection are the keys for control. PLEASE take advantage of the Monthly Blood Pressure Clinic. It could save your life or decrease your chances for heart attacks or strokes.
PLEASE JOIN US
We would love to have more nurses join us. We have decided to change our meetings to the first Monday of each month at 6:30PM in the Parish Center. This will allow working nurses the opportunity to attend and be involved. YOU DO NOT HAVE TO HAVE AN ACTIVE LICENSE TO PARTICIPATE. If you are unable to attend the meetings but would like to help with activities, please contact Theresa White at 304-623-1302 or Joyce Rabanal at 304-623-6517.
We also welcome any professional*(physician, nurse, social worker, community service workers, etc.) who would like to do a presentation relative to their field to contact us at these same numbers. We would love to schedule you for a program.
HEALTH TIPS FOR THIS QUARTER
OCTOBER
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. About 1 in 8 women born today in the United States will get breast cancer at some point. The good news is that many women survive breast cancer if it is found and treated early. A mammogram—the screening test for breast cancer- can help find breast cancer in early stages when it is easier to treat. In October, the Parish Nurses will host a program regarding Women’s’ Health. The program will be presented by Missy Barberio Saas who is an OB/GYN Nurse Practitioner.
On November 3, the Parish Nurses will host Bonnie’s Bus which is a mobile mammogram program that will provide the test regardless of the person’s insurance status or ability to pay. Contact Theresa White at 304-623-1302 to schedule your appointment or with any questions that you may have about the program. Call soon as there are only 27 available test slots.
October is also a good month for getting your yearly flu shot.
NOVEMBER
November is American Diabetes Month. Diabetes is one of the leading causes of disability and death in the united States. One in 12 Americans has diabetes—that is more than 25 million people. Another 79 million adults in the unites States are at a high risk for developing Type 2 Diabetes. Risk factors include: age 45 or older, high Blood Pressure, being overweight and a family history of Diabetes. The good news is that making healthy changes can greatly lower your risk by maintaining a controlled Blood Pressure, losing weight if you need to, becoming more active and discussing your risk level with your Health Care Provider.
DECEMBER
DECEMBER is World Aids Day . increase your knowledge of AIDS and how it is transmitted. In the United States, about 1 in 5 people who has the HIV virus that causes AIDS is unaware that they have the virus. The only sure way to know if you carry the virus is to be tested for it. In the United States, about 50,000 people are infected with HIV every year. It is important that everyone age 15-65 gets tested at least once. Some people may need to be tested more often. HIV is passed from one person to another by: Having unprotected sex with an HIV infected person; sharing needles with a person who is infected; breastfeeding, pregnancy or childbirth if the mother is infected; and getting a transfusion with blood that is infected with HIV( this is very rare in the united States).
IMPORTANT FUTURE DATES:
Blood Pressure Screening after all Masses:
September 27 and 28
October 25 and 26
November 29 and 30
December 27 and 28
Parish Nurse Meetings are held the first Monday of each month at 6:30PM in the Parish Center
Future Programs
September 30—Healthy Nutrition
October 28—Women’s Health. Breast Exams will be available
November 3-- Bonnie’s Bus
November 11—Healthy Eating for the Holidays
HEALTHY RECIPES
Not Your Grandma’s Succotash
1 TBS Canola oil 2 cups shelled edamame (unripened green soybeans)
1 red bell pepper, chopped ¼ cup low fat sour cream
1 red onion chopped 1/2 tsp kosher salt
2 cups corn (cut from cob or frozen) freshly ground black pepper to taste
Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Sauté pepper and onion for 2 minutes. Add corn and edamame and heat through. Stir in the sour cream. Season with salt and pepper and serve hot.
Baked Tilapia
1 lb. Yukon gold potatoes, peeled and thinly sliced ½ cup dry white wine
1 onion thinly sliced ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
¾ tsp. kosher salt, divided 4 tilapia fillets, about 1 lb.
1 15 oz. can no-salt added dices tomatoes 1 tsp. herbes de Provence
Preheat oven to 450. In a 13x9 baking dish, arrange half the potatoes in a single layer. Top with all of the onions. Sprinkle with ¼ tsp. salt. Pour tomatoes and wine over potatoes and onions. Arrange remaining potato slices on top. Drizzle with the oil and season with ½ tsp. salt. Bake until potatoes are tender when pierced with the tip of a paring knife, about 20-25 minutes. Season the fish with the remaining ¼ tsp. salt and herbes de Provence. Lay the fish over the potatoes and bake until cooked through, about 8 minutes
HEALTH QUIZ
1. Only one juice is high in iron. Is it
a. Orange b. prune c. carrot d. apricot
2. True or False: Wholegrain bread, beans and lentils are a rich source of fiber.
3. True or False: People should consume at least 5 portions of fruits and vegetables per day
4. True or False: If I eat lots of fruit I don’t need to eat any vegetables
5. True or False: Your fruit and vegetable intake must come from fresh fruit and vegetables only.
Answers in the next newsletter
We would like to thank the following people:
Father Casey for his support of our program
Dr. Lori Angotti and Dr. C Liebig for the eye screening
You, our parishioners for your attendance at and participation in our programs.
Inday and Shari for helping with reproducing materials and scheduling of events
Without all of you, this would not be possible
The information presented in this newsletter is for general knowledge and is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment. Questions about any specific condition or patient should be referred to a licensed physician or practitioner.