Blessing of the Hands

During infection control and spiritual care weeks, Mark Ellingson, manager of pastoral care, blesses the hands of Shannon Hansen and Katie Pierce, infection control coordinators at Altru.

The “Blessing of the Hands” is a traditional celebration for nurses, often led by chaplains or faith community leaders. Altru's Pastoral Services celebrates the hands-on work of our nurses but also of all our employees whether or not they literally touch a patient. Everyone is part of the team, from those in patient rooms to those in cubicles doing necessary tasks, and brings an aspect of healing to those we serve. So we offer a blessing for anyone and everyone’s hands to encourage them in their ongoing work.