The annual Blessing of the Hands at Northwestern Medicine Huntley Hospital looked a little different this year because of the COVID-19 pandemic, but the meaning of the tradition remained for the chaplains who administered it and the nurses who received it.

The Blessing of the Hands, which takes place during the hospital’s Nurses Week every year, is a ceremony in which nurses get their hands anointed and hospital chaplains say a blessing for them.

Chaplains usually go to units, and nurses typically receive blessings in groups while holding hands or as individuals during gatherings where the nurses are recognized.

Because of the coronavirus, the nurses this year received the blessing by lining up as they entered the building. Each nurse was anointed with lavender or peppermint oil poured onto their hands that they could rub in themselves.

It was the first blessing for some nurses, while others have received it every year for decades.

Chaplain Appolonia Irika of Lindenhurst had been conducting the blessings since Tuesday. The purpose of the Blessing of the Hands is to remind nurses and doctors about the sacredness of their job and to honor them, she said.

While performing the blessing, the chaplains typically ask for the hands to be blessed and for the nurses to bring healing, comfort and joy to others.

Even though nurses might not all receive the blessing physically together this year, "in spirit, we all get it
together," Irika said.

Irika said it is powerful to see the expectation and excitement in the nurses’ eyes.

“This is so meaningful to them,” she said. “The conditions in which we are [doing it] is different, but the meaningfulness of it is still the same.”

Linda Kubick, a nurse from Crystal Lake, said those in her profession go through a lot each day, and just knowing that they are blessed and the Lord is with them really helps her.

It’s been hard seeing COVID-19 patients and their families deal with the virus, Kubick said. However, she said it’s nice to know that she is able to do something to help them during a rough time.

Kim Armour, vice president and chief nurse executive at Northwestern Medicine Huntley Hospital, has received the blessing for years while working with many different organizations across the Northwestern Medicine Health System.

Armour said the blessing gives her a feeling of centeredness.

The hospital system is very diverse, she said, with a lot of employees with different cultural and religious backgrounds, but many partake in the blessing regardless of their specific religion.

“It’s about having their hands infused with the intention that they can give health to others,” Armour said.

That intention is especially important this year, Armour said, as COVID-19 has been an invisible enemy to those working in health care.

Not only do they have patients in the hospital to take care of, but nurses also are concerned about making sure the virus doesn’t keep spreading in the community.

“Any little extra thing that might give them another intention or confidence in the care they’re giving is important,” Armour said. “And this is part of it.”

The hospital celebrated nurses all week by doing things such as handing out ice cream sandwiches, announcing Nursing of the Year awards and hosting a guest speaker.

A high number of COVID-19 cases caused this year’s Nurses Week, which usually is in May, to be delayed. However, Armour said she is glad they still were able to celebrate in August.

“It’s very fun that they can honor their colleagues that are so important to their work,” Armour said. “Nurses are here 24 hours a day. It takes all of us. We’re an ‘all-in’ organization.”

Kubick said she is grateful to be recognized through Nurses Week, but for her, it’s also a time to honor her patients.

“When I do a good job for my patients, it’s when I feel the best,” Kubick said.