A local registered nurse is bringing nurse-led access to care services to her community in Randolph County.
Kassie Swecker, a Faith Community Nurse trained by the WVU School of Nursing, is utilizing her skills and training to establish a nurse-led access to care point at Good Shepherd Assembly of God in Elkins, West Virginia. This access point will provide screenings, education, and preventive care.
Swecker serves as a public health nurse at Randolph County Health Department, where she works with diverse groups across the county. She wanted to go a step further in addressing healthcare needs and eliminating barriers in her community by working with her church.
"I wanted to bring health care closer to home for people in my faith community and surrounding neighborhood, where they feel most comfortable," Swecker shared. "My goal is to empower them with the tools, education, and screenings they need to manage their health more proactively."
Through this initiative, Kassie provides services like blood pressure checks, diabetes screenings, and general health assessments for adults, helping catch potential health issues before they become critical.
In addition to adult screenings, she has developed programs tailored to younger members of her community, focusing on wellness education and preventive practices that encourage healthy lifestyle habits from an early age. Parents and young people in the congregation have expressed excitement about this effort, which educates area youth about nutrition, physical activity, and mental well-being.
“Kassie’s work represents an inspiring example of how nurses can leverage their roles in public health and community settings to provide targeted, localized care,” said Dr. Angel Smothers, Associate Dean for Community Engagement at the WVU School of Nursing.
Kassie completed the national training program for faith community nurses at the WVU School of Nursing. Funding to support her training and work was made possible by the Pallottine Foundation of Buckhannon.
Donations supporting the work of Faith Community Nurses are awarded via the WVU Foundation, the nonprofit organization that receives and administers private donations on behalf of the University.