Joyce Ryan
Joyce was born in Charleston, SC. On July 20th, 1948.
My family moved to Iva, S.C. in 1950 and built a home on 12 acres outside of town.
I am the fourth daughter with a brother younger than myself.
I grew up in this small town and attended the Iva Elementary School and then graduated from Crescent High School. I loved sports and played basketball throughout high school.
I am a Registered Nurse and a graduate of Clemson University. My clinical nursing experience was done at Anderson Memorial Hospital in Anderson, S.C. Following graduation, I worked on a Med/Surg unit at Anderson Memorial for another year.
I moved to Columbia, S. C. and started work at Providence Hospital in 1969. I worked there as a staff nurse, Head Nurse, Orientation Nurse, and Trainer in the Continuing Education Department.
I married Tim Ryan in 1977. We have a son, Matthew, born in 1978 and a daughter,
Lauren, born in 1981. In 1982, we moved to Knoxville.
In late 1982, I went to work on the 11-7 shift on 6 B- Neurological Unit at Baptist Hospital. Over the next 14 years, I worked with Guest Services, Risk Management, and Quality Improvement. In 1995, the first Parish Nurse Program in Tennessee was initiated by Dr.Carol Smucker through Baptist Hospital and the Pastoral Care Department.
In 1996 I entered the CPE (Clinical Pastoral Education) program at Baptist Hospital. There I met Rachel Hallam who, also, was one of the four nurses selected for this Parish Nurse Training Program with me.
Since Parish Nursing is an Interdenominational Program, nurses of different Christian Faiths could be placed in various churches. I was selected by 2nd United Methodist Church to be their Parish Nurse. It was a wonderful church, community, and congregation. I was there for 11 ½ years.
There, I worked with the Senior Adults; visited the sick, homebound, hospitalized, and nursing home/assisted living congregational members; had a large phone ministry; a card ministry; did health fairs; Medic Blood Drives; helped with Flu Shot Campaigns; did monthly Blood Pressure Screenings; helped with the Monday Homeless Ministry at 2nd UMC; provided first aid supplies, BP/P, and vision screening for the homeless, I Helped set up Senior Adult Exercise classes and a workout area; helped set up a Senior Lounge with 3 working computers for use by Senior Adults and others within the congregation; led summer Swim exercise classes for several years; included Senior Adults on some of my home visits to their friends; set up an equipment closet and log book with used wheel chairs, walkers, bedside commodes, etc.; delivered altar flowers to hospitalized/homebound/etc as available while making my visits. There are many other activities that I assisted with, but none as meaningful as visitation.
I am very excited to be here with you at 2nd Presbyterian Church. Both, Susan Lewis and Rachel Hallam have laid a wonderful foundation for Parish Nursing to continue as a true
Ministry here. With GOD’s continuing guidance and grace, I anticipate continuing to assist in meeting this congregation’s need for health promotion to include the Body, Mind, and Spirit.
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