Hunterdon Healthcare System Celebrates National Nursing Week
Published April 19, 2008
Written by Cindy Carlson, RN Hunterdon Healthcare System
National Nurses Week is to be celebrated the week of May 5th. The purpose of National RN Recognition Day is to raise awareness of the value of nursing and help educate the public about the role nurses play in meeting the health care needs of the American people. Annually, Nurses Week begins on May 5, marked as RN Recognition Day, and ends on May 12, the birthday of Florence Nightingale, founder of nursing as a modern profession. Often described as an art and a science, nursing is a profession that embraces dedicated people with varied interests, strengths and passions because of the many opportunities the profession offers. As nurses, we work in emergency rooms, school based clinics and doctors offices, to name a few. We have many roles, from staff nurse in a hospital to educators, nurse practitioners, RN first assistants in surgery and even into research. All roles are carried out with passion for the profession with a strong commitment to patient safety. Registered nurses provide highly skilled, safe and quality care, and who encounter increased challenges to their professional and ethical commitment to deliver essential health care to their communities.
In honor of the dedication, commitment and tireless effort of the nearly 2.9 million registered nurses nationwide to promote and maintain the health of this nation, Hunterdon Healthcare System recognizes more than 700 nurses employed for the hospital and in their satellite locations. The hospital plans many activities to honor their nursing staff. A few of these are; massages, ice cream socials, and an elaborate luncheon. Hunterdon Health Care System also has a ceremony called, Blessing of the Hands, which touches the very hearts of the dedicated nurses employed there. The Blessing of the hands is performed by Hunterdon Healthcare System Chaplin, Jim Devries to celebrate the Nightingale Moment and honor the spirit of holistic nursing. Holistic nursing recognizes that every patient needs to be treated by the mind, body and spirit to become well when illness strikes. The Blessing of the Hands is from In Praise of Hands, Diann Neu, Watersheel, Winter 1989. Adapted by Corlette Pierson, Pastoral Care Resident at Rush-Presbyterian-St. Luke’s Medical Center Chicago, Il.
As members of the Nursing Staff of Hunterdon Healthcare System, we welcome all of the public to join in with our “Blessing of the Hands” ceremony in your own personal setting or place of Worship.
Nurses' Hands
Blessed be these hands that have touched life.
Blessed be these hands that have felt pain.
Blessed be these hands that have embraced with compassion.
Blessed be these hands that have been clinched with anger or withdrawn in fear.
Blessed be these hands that have drawn blood and administered medicine.
Blessed be these hands that have cleaned beds and disposed of wastes.
Blessed be these hands that have anointed the sick and offered blessings.
Blessed be these hands that grow stiff with age.
Blessed be these hands that have comforted the dying and the dead.
Blessed be these hands, we hold the future in these hands.