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Hope's Parish Nurse Adds Holistic Touch

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By DEREK MAUL

Tribune correspondent

Published: January 14, 2009

PLANT CITY - The Rev. Dean R. Pfeffer of Hope Lutheran Church is a big fan of parish nurse Joyce Schirmer VanMatre.

"Joyce has been a phenomenal leader in parish nursing," he said. "In fact, Oct. 19th she received the Lutheran Services of Florida Good Samaritan Award."

Pfeffer went on to list a catalogue of areas where she offers her skills.

"She serves as parish nurse coordinator for our Florida-Georgia District and works with the Lutheran Disaster Relief Board. She's a parish nurse mentor, in training as a Stephen's Minister, assists with hospital, sick and shut-in calls, and teaches health and wellness for district church worker conferences. She is tireless."

The Plant City Courier & Tribune talked with VanMatre about her work:

Q: How long have you been on staff?

A: Since 2002. Pastor has been so willing to have this ministry here; it's something I've wanted to do for a long time.

Q: Why have a parish nurse program?

A: It's a holistic approach to serving Christ: mind, body and spirit together for the whole person. It's up to us to take care of the gift of our body, to care for it properly with the help of God and keep it in good a running order.

Q: What are some of the initiatives you sponsor?

A: Health lectures, workshops, prevention, blood pressures, health fairs, encouragement, referrals, counseling, visitation at the hospitals. Then I do a lot of education.

Q: Is the focus older adults?

A: Not at all. We deal with maternal child care, vaccinations and prevention for all ages. Our quarterly Hope Health Herald newsletter is for everyone. It's often hard for young parents when both parents are working full time; society has put a lot of constraints on parents. The church is the perfect place to think about your balanced health.

Q: Are you busy?

A: I've been swamped! Especially now I'm parish nurse coordinator for the Florida-Georgia District and on the family church-worker care committee pastors, counselors, parish nurses. We cover over 200 Missouri Synod Lutheran churches. I've been blown away by how many have active programs. I've found that networking is very helpful, and try to work smarter, not harder.

Q: How is the church responding?

A: We have the most loving congregation, I'm telling you. Every January we start a new 'walk' as a congregation. This is our fifth, and we're going to walk around the world by Easter or thereabouts. People keep track of activities and miles. Then we track it on a map. This year we walked to India. Then people just keep going.

Q: Does the walk help?

A: It's amazing. Cholesterol, blood pressure, pulse, blood sugars - you name it. Weight is not the issue, health is the issue.

Q: Where were you raised?

A: Born in New York 1943, then all over as an Army brat, then St. Petersburg after age 11.

Q: What's your education?

A: I went to St. John's Academy in Winfield, Kansas; that was high school, 1961. Then Gordon Keller School of Nursing at Tampa General Hospital. I earned my diploma in nursing. Since then it's been nonstop learning. I'm a nationally certified case manager, a certified rehabilitation registered nurse and a certified disability management specialist. I received my bachelor's at University Community Hospital's University of St. Francis in 1989.

Q: Where did you work?

A: Each step moved me forward. I've worked at Tampa General, in a doctor's office and with home health. I was one of the first nurses hired at Brandon Regional Hospital. The bulk of my career was as a rehab nurse. My business was in Brandon, Independent Group Consultants.

Q: Are you married?

A: I've been married to Richard VanMatre since 1965. He's a third-generation pharmacist. Our daughter Kim 42 and our son Ricky 37 are fourth-generation pharmacists. Our daughter Karen 41 is a nurse.

Q: Do you enjoy your work?

A: Everything I've done has prepared me for this position as parish nurse. God knew what he was doing. There's more to parish nursing - you've got to be spiritually mature, got to know the Scriptures. I love what I do.

Q: What Scripture guides you?

A: Romans 12:12. 'Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.' Share with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality.

Q: Is your program effective?

A: I'm passionate about it because it makes such a big difference.

Joyce Schirmer VanMatre is parish nurse at Hope Lutheran Church, 2001 N. Park Road, Plant City. The church's phone number is (813) 752-4622. Correspondent Derek Maul can be reached at derekmaul @gmail.com.

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