Pat Thorlton: Faith Community Nurse

Pat began as North Church’s part-time Faith Community Nurse, (formerly Parish Nurse) in October, 2007.  A graduate of I.U., Pat has been a registered nurse for over 20 years, 10 of them as a parish nurse. She was a member of the first class for parish nurse ministry at University of Indianapolis. Presently she is combining her 10 hours per week at North with her position as Program Coordinator for Congregational Health Ministries at Clarian Health. In this joint venture between Clarian and North, Pat will be training parish nurse interns. who we can look forward to seeing

in the building at times.

Pat is married and has two adult sons and 5 grandchildren. She says, “Nursing is a calling for me - having experienced a tragic event with a young woman from our congregation (Greenwood UMC) 24 years ago. Since childhood I had wanted to be a nurse. Organizing a care team for this young woman caused my husband to challenge my call: ‘If you're ever going to go to nursing, now is the time’. With support from my employer and my pastor, Dr. Robert Kessinger, (former North Church associate pastor), I quit my job and registered for school.”

Plans are for Pat to be at North on Tuesdays; her office is Room 205. She is glad to answer health-related questions from the congregation as well as participating in our Health Ministry.