The “Blessing of the Hands” is a Holistic approach to self-care for nurses. This prayer is posted on the AHNA website to honor all nurses on the birthday of Florence Nightingale, May 12th (www.ahna.org).
2020 is the “Year of the Nurse”, however, National Nurses’ Week is celebrated every year. The “Blessing of the Hands” is a tradition that began on May 12, 2000 through the endeavors of Holistic Nurses honoring the spirit of holistic nursing. It is a beautiful way of heightening the awareness of the physical, emotional, mental and spiritual realms of life that encompass the nursing profession.
NURSES’ HANDS
Blessed be these hands that have touched life.
Blessed be these hands that have embraced with compassion.
Blessed be these hands that have been clinched with anger of withdrawn in fear.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 have comforted the dying and held the dead.
Blessed be these hands, we hold the future in these hands.
Blessed be our hands for they are the work of Your hands, O Holy One.
