Hello, I am Karen Frank, Beth El's Congregational Nurse. My practice integrates physical and spiritual health. As the nurse at this active and diverse synagogue, I meet with members and their families to assist in making lifestyle choices, grapple with spiritual issues, consult on health concerns, and help to connect families to community resources. I visit homebound members, make hospital visits and make regular phone calls to many members on an on-going basis.

Communication with Rabbi Roston, Cantor Fine and the Caring Committee is crucial to the success of the program. Referrals received from the clergy are followed-up by regular and ongoing emails. I attend the professional team meetings at the synagogue. The confidential nature of the problems I am addressing with the patient is not revealed, but patient permission is requested in order to "tell the rabbi we visited today".

My educational background prepared me for this integration of fields in that I am a registered nurse and I have a degree in psychology and am certified in Jewish spiritual direction.

I am known as the Project SHIN (Spiritual Healing Integrating Nursing) Nurse in the community and serve Congregation Beth El part-time and proudly. I can be reached at kfrank@bethelnj.org or through the Beth El office at 973-763-0111, ext. 30.