CHP offers “blessing of the hands”

By Greg Yinger/special to the VW independent

In honor of National Nurses Week, which was May 6-12, CHP Home Care & Hospice offered a “blessing of the hands” — a centuries-old tradition meant to honor the vital role nurses play in healing and compassion.
 
“Blessing of the Hands” ceremonies are now fairly commonplace during Nurse’s Week. Human touch is such a crucial part of health care. Blessing of the hands with oils or water is a way to acknowledge that importance, while also honoring the spiritual aspects found in physical care.

The idea came from Colleen Quickery, the administrator of Hearth & Home in Van Wert.

CHP chaplain Steve Haddix performed about 240 blessings for staff at various health care offices and facilities in Van Wert and surrounding counties as well as at CHP offices in Delphos, Lima, Paulding, and Van Wert. Haddix is also serves as senior pastor of Delphos Wesleyan Church.
 
This is the first year CHP has offered the ceremony, and it has had a powerful impact on many who received it.
 
“I think for me, the most special part is when you do that 30-second blessing, and I look up and the people have tears in their eyes, it just it means so much,” Haddix said. “We’ve been in situations where people said, this is exactly what they needed for that day. So, it’s been an amazing journey.”

A blessing of hands ceremony is a brief, interfaith ritual that includes prayer, with the application of oil or water to the hands. It is meant to recognize the work of healthcare providers and remind them that they are cared for and remembered in their daily routines.

“This is very special for us as nurses, because, not only do we physically work with our hands, sometimes our hands are just that nice, reassuring touch on another’s hands or one shoulder, or that hug,” said Ashley Crossgrove, RN, CHP supervisor. “It’s just not the physical work, it’s the emotional part that we also get attached to the patients with,”
 
CHP plans to continue and expand the blessing of the hands in future years.