Nursing Students Participate in Blessing of the Hands

Posted on 11.MAR.09

Nursing students enrolled at Piedmont Technical College are being prepared not only in mind, but in spirit through a recent Blessing of the Hands service, presented by the Pastoral Services Department of Self Regional Healthcare. The purpose of today is to remind you that what you do is sacred, said Chaplain Steve Lemons, director. The non-denominational ceremony was for all first year students. This is a wonderful starting point to teach them about the caring side of nursing, said Holisa Wharton, instructor and organizer. You can't go into nursing without faith. You can't try to help the body without helping the spirit. Students were welcomed by the members of the Pastoral Services Department with prayers and audience participation activities. Holy God, as oil was used as a base for medicine in ancient times, we ask you to bless our use of this oil today, said Chaplain Bob Albert. May its texture remind us that the soothing work of our hands is also pleasing to you. Following the prayer, students were invited to participate in the anointing ceremony. Chaplains anointed each student's hands with the oil and said a prayer of blessing. Lemons then reminded students of the importance of compassion in their chosen field. You start out with a heart and compassion for the people. You will be tempted to become institutionalized, he said. It is up to you to keep your heart tender and remember you have a calling. Students left the ceremony with a new appreciation of the nursing profession and what is required of them. This ceremony brings us together in a creative way to unite us with our hands because they are important in what we're doing, said Daniel Bange from Ward. It makes us sit down and think about the career we have chosen. I felt the spirit, said Annie McGee from Newberry. They shared a lot of things today - caring, love and compassion and being a nurse -being part of the healing. from greenwood today