For Nurses Week.
With These Hands
With these hands I have touched the lives of many.
I touch the sick, the wounded, the sad and sorrowful, the fearful and angry.
I touch the newly diagnosed, the acute, and the chronically ill.
I touch the recovered. I touch the bereaved.
I touch the lives of patients, family, friends, colleagues, and co-worders.
I give hope.
With these hands, I communicate care.
I soothe my patient who is in pain.
I reassure the anxious that I am close by.
I encourage the weak to take a first step.
I protect the vulnerable from danger.
I give courage.
With these hands, I serve to meet human needs of the body, mind and spirit.
I wash his back and his face. I help him to brush his teeth.
I apply cream to refresh dry feet and hands.
I give a slight squeeze to her shoulder and hold her hand for a moment.
I set down trays, pick up linens, rearrange pillows, turn down beds, and pull up blankets.
I give comfort.
With these hands, I nurse the sick.
I administer the medications, place the IV, hang the fluids and reset the pump.
I was and dress and bandage the wounds, and then I acknowledge the emotional wounds.
I take a temperature, a blood pressure, a measurement, each with my hands.
I empty a bedpan, clean a patient and restore his or her dignity.
I give respect.
With these hands, I give of myself in ways intentional and not.
My spirit reaches out to another spirit with a welcoming handshake.
My generosity of touch is absorbed by my patient's need, and I fell the richer for it.
My strength stabilizes his or her frailty, and touching frailty replenishes my gratitude for strength.
I affirm our humanity.
I do all the things and more -- with my hands.
My hands are the vessel of my spirit as I help people in need,
... in need of health, kindness, comfort, and respect.
With these hands, I offer healing.
With these hands I have touched the lives of many.
I touch the sick, the wounded, the sad and sorrowful, the fearful and angry.
I touch the newly diagnosed, the acute, and the chronically ill.
I touch the recovered. I touch the bereaved.
I touch the lives of patients, family, friends, colleagues, and co-worders.
I give hope.
With these hands, I communicate care.
I soothe my patient who is in pain.
I reassure the anxious that I am close by.
I encourage the weak to take a first step.
I protect the vulnerable from danger.
I give courage.
With these hands, I serve to meet human needs of the body, mind and spirit.
I wash his back and his face. I help him to brush his teeth.
I apply cream to refresh dry feet and hands.
I give a slight squeeze to her shoulder and hold her hand for a moment.
I set down trays, pick up linens, rearrange pillows, turn down beds, and pull up blankets.
I give comfort.
With these hands, I nurse the sick.
I administer the medications, place the IV, hang the fluids and reset the pump.
I was and dress and bandage the wounds, and then I acknowledge the emotional wounds.
I take a temperature, a blood pressure, a measurement, each with my hands.
I empty a bedpan, clean a patient and restore his or her dignity.
I give respect.
With these hands, I give of myself in ways intentional and not.
My spirit reaches out to another spirit with a welcoming handshake.
My generosity of touch is absorbed by my patient's need, and I fell the richer for it.
My strength stabilizes his or her frailty, and touching frailty replenishes my gratitude for strength.
I affirm our humanity.
I do all the things and more -- with my hands.
My hands are the vessel of my spirit as I help people in need,
... in need of health, kindness, comfort, and respect.
With these hands, I offer healing.