About Jennie Johnson RN-BC, PhD

• An experienced cardiovascular nurse who counseled thousands of people to reduce their risk for a heart attack and stroke.

• A gifted, professional, speaker who uses entertaining stories to teach, translate and explain medical jargon on a variety of health related topics

   

• Writes a monthly blog “A Nurse’s Voice” helping people understand some of the most controversial and confusing medical topics of the day.

   

• Freelance Writer

   

• Currently, serves as a parish nurse in a Lutheran church in northern, Idaho 

I’m a Christian nurse who helps people navigate the murky waters of healthcare.

Contact

Email:     ask@jenniejohnsonrn.com

Address: PO Box 326, Hope, ID 83836

Phone:    (630) 267-3254

Photos

Other Published Books and Articles

“Wake Up Call 911: It’s Time to Reduce your Risk for a Heart Attack and Stroke” (2015)

Spanish Translation: “Llamada A Al Corazon Es Timepo Al Corazon Y Derrame Cerebral” (2020)

 Johnson et al. “Does Knowledge of Coronary Artery Calcium Affect Risk Perceptions, Likelihood of Taking Action and Health-Promoting Behavior Change?” Journal of Cardiovascular Nursing. (January-February 2015) 30(1):15-25.

Multiple articles in “Parish Nursing Notes.”

Helping the Hurting: Nursing Ministry in the Body of Christ is an inspiring book to help any church establish a healing ministry of

Jesus Christ. True stories from around the world prove the impact of this healing ministry. A must read…

—LeAnn Thieman, author Chicken Soup for the Christian Woman’s Soul

For “Jesus said, I was sick, and you visited me…”

Book Description

Never has there been a more important time for every church to have a parish nursing ministry to guide members through the murky waters of healthcare, but few know anything about it. Parish means church. Why now? Because you’re needed!

With a love for Jesus and people, any Christian nurse can become a parish nurse and guide his or her people through the problems that any church may encounter living in a fallen world:

• Depression

• Acute Illness

• Aging Parent

• Live Shooter

• Troubled Teen

• Natural Disasters

• COVID-19 Outbreak

Through skills, spiritual gifts and nursing prayers, Jesus works through the Christian nurse to heal the body and soul.

Written in the fire of the great pandemic, you’ll learn what parish nursing is, how to become one and the simple A to Z steps to set up a ministry. If you’re currently a parish nurse, you’ll gain new, innovative ideas for enhancing your ministry. If you’re a pastor or church leader, you’ll learn the benefits of this ministry to spread the gospel when nurses meet the needs of hurting people.

Dynamic parish nursing stories from around the world are peppered throughout.

Whether your congregation is small or large— this Christian nursing book is your roadmap to get you started.

Jennie Johnson, RN, PhD is a Lutheran parish nurse, professional speaker and writer who lives with her husband John in northern Idaho. 

Topics and Sample Questions

A to Z Steps to Begin a Christian Nurse Ministry Easily and Cheaply

What is a volunteer, Christian, parish nurse ministry and how do you begin it easily and inexpensively?

How One Christian Nurse Helps Members During a Health Crisis

How does the Christian nurse use nursing skills and spiritual gifts to help heal hurting people in a time of crisis?

 Covid Outbreak (60 Members) in a Small Church

How did one parish nurse care for 60 members during a COVID outbreak using a telephone as a stethoscope?

Top 10 Things to Do If You Get COVID-19: A Few May Surprise You (Omicron Update)

What are the top 10 things to do at home if you get COVID-19? A few may surprise you.

Understanding Christians Who Resist COVID Vaccines

Why are so many intelligent Christians refusing the COVID vaccines?

Seasonal Affective Disorder: Beat the Winter Blues (Depression)

How does light and Vitamin D help reduce the symptoms of the Winter Blues or depression from Seasonal Affective Disorder)?

Dealing with an Aging Parent with Dementia

What advice helps adult children cope with an aging parent with dementia?

Coping with Stress: Dealing with a Hot Reactor in and Out of Church

How do you help people deal with stress in these uncertain times and the hot reactors in and out of your congregation?

Live Shooter in the Building

What happens when a troubled teen member brings a gun to school?

Author Bio

Professional

Jennie Johnson was awarded a PhD in nursing from Loyola University, Chicago, in 2012 studying how to help people successfully change harmful behaviors. She is a registered nurse with a vast experience in caring for cardiovascular patients in critical care and telemetry units. Jennie counseled thousands of patients to make healthier behavior choices and created a variety of highly regarded health related educational programs. Her audiences ranged in age from elementary school children, teenagers, adults and corporations.

She taught the Kaplan National Council Licensure Examination RN prep course in nursing schools throughout the Northwest. In 2017 she was the American Heart Association, Spokane, “Go Red for Women” keynote speaker and appeared on a local PBS program “Health Matters, Heart Health.”

Her first book, Wake Up Call 911: It’s Time to Reduce Your Risk for A Heart Attack and Stroke was published in 2015. A Spanish translation was released in May of 2020. Her latest project is a children’s book, Sweet Kisses: Help your Child Adjust to a New Baby.

Personal

Jennie and her husband John are co-founders of Living for A Healthy Heart, LLC and live on a lake in northern, Idaho. They have been married for 46 years and have 10 young grandchildren. Jennie has been an active Missouri-Synod Lutheran for nearly 46 years. The verse that guides her life is, but seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well (Matthew 6:33).

She has served as a volunteer parish nurse in a small Idaho Lutheran congregation for the past 8 years. She guided her members through a variety of issues: depression, acute illness, aging parent, a potential live shooter in the building, and a COVID-19 outbreak of 60 members. She has also counseled hundreds of people to safely recover from a COVID infection at home to avoid serious complications and hospitalizations. Her experience forms the basis for the book: Helping the Hurting: Nursing Ministry in the Body of Christ.

She believes that every church has a caring Christian nurse who could serve in this role. Most simply don’t know much about it or lack the confidence to do it. She asks, “Why now? Because the healing voice and touch of a caring Christian nurse is desperately needed, and you can do it!”

A more complete CV will be provided upon request.

Other Topics and Sample Questions

Helping Your Child Adjust to a New Baby

How can parents avoid jealousy in older siblings?

Strategies to Avoid Tantrums in Small Children

How can you interrupt the early stages of emotional frustration and garner cooperation?

Loving the Hot Reactor

How can you remain calm when confronted with an angry person? 

The Danger from Heart Attack and Stroke

How do heart attacks and strokes develop?

Detect Silent Plaque Build-up with a Coronary Artery Calcium Heart Score Test

How does the coronary artery calcium score heart test detect if you are at risk for a heart attack?

Understand the Numbers of Abnormal Cholesterol

How can I lower my bad numbers?

High Blood Pressure: The Silent Killer

How can I know if I have high blood pressure and ways to lower it?

The Danger from Excess Blood Sugar

Why is extra blood sugar so dangerous and the connection to excess weight?

The Battle of the Bulge

How can I finally lose this excess weight?

Use It or Lose It

What can I do if I hate going to the gym?

Small Simple Changes that Work to Improve Health

What small behavior changes make a huge difference in my health?

Media Links

Notable Press Appearances with Links

• Update on Heart Attack & Stroke Prevention for International Parish Nurses Webinar (Lutheran Church Missouri-Synod (LCMS) Health Ministry, (2018): https://blogs.lcms.org/2018/heart-health.

• KSPS-7 Public Television in Spokane, Panel: Health Matters, Heart Health (2016) https://video.ksps.org/video/health-matters-television-life-heart-health-program/.

Other Media

• The Lamplighter Radio Program, WJLY 88.3 FM, Interview with Richard Wheeler, The Top 10 Things to Do to Beat the Omicron Virus While Recovering from Home, Ramsey, IL, (January 20, 2022). Part 1 & 2 

• The Lamplighter Radio Program, WJLY 88.3 FM, Interview with Richard Wheeler, 80% of Heart Attacks and Strokes Could be Prevented if People Did 5 Things, Ramsey, IL, February 18, 2022). 

• KREM-2 CBS TV Affiliate, Real Men Wear Gowns: Beating Heart Disease with reporter Mark Hanrahan, Spokane, WA (April 2016).

• KAYU TV Good Day, Go Red for Women interview with reporter Kjerstin Bell, Spokane, WA (March 2016).

• KZZU FM radio live with Dave, Ken and Molly Show, Go Red for Women interview, Spokane, WA (March 2016).

• Podcast-Don’t Be a Heart Attack Statistic. Jennings Wire- The World of Success, (April 1, 2015): http://www.jenningswire.com/?s=jennie+johnson&x=7&y=11.

Notable Presentations

• 29th. Annual Concordia University Conference for Parish Nursing and Congregational Health Ministries, presented COVID-19 Update and Case Study of an Outbreak in a Small Church and Beat the Winter Blues: Dealing with Depression, Mequon, WI (May 2021).

• Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church, Beating the Winter Blues series, Rathdrum, ID (January-March 2019).

• Christ the King Lutheran Church, Battle of the Bulge series, Coeur d’ Alene, ID (January-December 2018).

• Mission trip to Bethlehem, Palestine/Israel, presented Heart Attack & Stroke Prevention to Arab women at Bethlehem Christmas Lutheran Church (November 2017).

• Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church, Battle of the Bulge series, Rathdrum, ID (January-December 2017).

• Washington State University Pharmacy Students, The Role of the Pharmacist in Cardiovascular Disease Prevention, Spokane, WA (May 2017).

• Keynote Speaker for the American Heart Association, Spokane, WA Go Red for Women Luncheon, Caring for the Caregivers, Know your Risk, (March 2016).

• Spokane Dental Society, Update on Cardiovascular Risk Factors and the Most Effective Techniques to Enhance Adherence, Spokane, WA (2015).

Special Honors

• Contributor to Lutheran Parish Nurses International Health Topics ( LPNI.org)

• Frequent contributor for an international newsletter, Parish Nursing Notes (2017 to present).

• Cardiovascular Board Certification (2005 to present).

• American College of Cardiology, Cardiac Care Associate (2009- 2020).

• Sigma Theta Tau National Honor Nursing Society (2006-2020).

• Awarded Cardiovascular Prevention Graduation Award for excellence in Nursing PhD research (May 2012).

• Content Panel Expert for National Cardiovascular Certification Exam, Washington D.C. (2005-2009).