Congregational nurse Donna Kremer's work is her calling. At WellStar Health System in Marietta, Kremer job is to blend the world of health care with a faith-based approach.

"We intentionally bridge faith and health and unite both disciplines in a very real practice," Kremer said. "For instance, taking blood pressure is a very simple nursing tool anywhere, but in the faith setting it's an opportunity to connect at a much deeper level. It's a time to listen to someone's concerns, interact and interface with patients."

Kremer, M.Div., BSN, RN, ICCE, spends much of her time in the community meeting with church leaders to help them set up health ministries in their congregations, finding nurses in those communities and reaching out to members through meetings and speakers.

In her own church, Kremer volunteers as a nurse, serving congregation members at First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Marietta. In her job at WellStar, she works with nearly 80 churches and 125 nurses in the community.

"These congregations and nurses have covenant partnerships with WellStar, and we provide them with the support they need," Kremer said. "The nurses direct their own ministries within their congregations, but we are here for professional development and to provide resources for them. It's a powerful way to serve the community."

Kremer had worked in nursing for 30 years before she decided to attend seminary at Emory University in Atlanta. "I had a spiritual call to seminary," she said.

In 2001 and 2002, Kremer worked at the Atlanta Enterprise Center, a unit of clinical pastoral education through the Training and Counseling Center at St. Luke's Episcopal Church in Atlanta. The organization provides opportunities for self-sufficiency to Atlanta's homeless and those at risk of becoming homeless.

"My goal was to create and deepen my own sense of pastoral identity," Kremer said.

Her role in WellStar's health ministry includes integrating faith and health; providing information about the relationship between health and faith; evaluating outcomes and behavior; serving as a personal health counselor; facilitating support groups; making referrals to community resources; assisting and coordinating volunteers; and advocating for people who need a voice.

Kremer is also working with Kennesaw State University to develop a 42-hour education program for congregational nursing that will begin in January.

Any nurse can be a congregational nurse as a volunteer, but there are few paying jobs for such nurses in Georgia.

"This is not a revenue-generating department but an extension of pastoral care into the community," Kremer said. "There's a new paradigm for health care now. Hospitals must reach out into the community, tuning in to people on a more spiritual level.

"There's a deep connection between faith and health care, and being a congregational nurse gives me the chance to connect with people in a more meaningful way. It is so satisfying."