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SALT LAKE CITY — To honor and uplift healthcare workers, representatives from several faiths brought blessings and a message of gratitude to University of Utah Hospital Thursday.
"Today we're doing a blessing of the hands as a way of spiritually empowering all who come and serve here," said Susan Roberts, hospital chaplin.
Spiritual Care Week brings all aspects of hospital life together — united in the idea that the care and healing provided is sacred work.
Often hospital workers don't stop to think about all the things their hands do. So it was a special moment in the day for the doctors, nurses and technicians to take a moment and allow the faith community to recognize their care.
"My hands work from taking care of infants clear to adults. We insert peripheral IVs, give medications to patients to help with pain control, aid in trauma injuries, help the orthopedic team with splinting, " said Kelsie Olsen, emergency nurse coordinator.
Spiritual leaders brought a gentle touch Thursday to hospital staff in return for their hard work and an acknowledgement of the gifts of healthcare workers.
"For me it's a new experience," Oslen said. "It's pretty emotional because we deal with so many different types of patients."
"I give (the workers) a blessing, and it takes away some of their weariness and some of the worries and anxieties and stress. It kind of lifts them up," said Lacess Harris, a member of the Northern Ute Tribe.
Sometimes those stresses include the challenges that come as part of their everyday lives, so the blessing includes an embrace.
"Take a breath and remember that you are sustained and that you are doing what you were called to do. We want you to be fulfilled and blessed in that," Roberts said in a blessing.
Healthcare workers experienced a moment of peace in an always busy day of caring for others.
