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Nursing Resources

CHA Resources

Careful Nursing

"Careful Nursing" is a model developed in the early 19th century by Catherine McAuley, the foundress of the Sisters of Mercy. It was used first in Ireland, then by the Irish nurses in the Crimean War. It is likely to have been be adapted by Florence Nightingale in her nursing framework, practice and teaching. 

Other Organization Resources

A Blessing of Healing Hands

Nurse's Examen

The Examen exercise by Saint Ignatius offers those in nursing a means for reflection after a shift or at the end of the day. It is available in hardcopy as a card or downloadable 8.5 x 11 page.

Improving the Lives of Older Adults through Faith Community Partnerships

Improving the Lives of Older Adults through Faith Community Partnerships: Healing Body, Mind and Spirit

Faith communities and health care organizations are both called to heal. By partnering together, these organizations can complement each other’s strengths to provide health, social and spiritual support to elders in need. While there may be challenges to starting these partnerships, they can have great benefits for all involved. By participating in holistic approaches that heal mind, body and spirit, hospitals, skilled nursing facilities and other health and senior service organizations have the opportunity to reduce admissions, readmissions and lengths of stay—key metrics in an evolving payment system that increasingly focuses on quality and patient outcomes rather than volume of services. For mission-based health care organizations, going into the community to help a vulnerable groups demonstrates their charitable mission and tax-exempt purpose.This 25-page booklet makes the case for greater partnership between health care organizations and faith communities in service to the elder populations they serve. It provides examples of current partnerships, suggestions for how to get started and shares relevant websites and resources. The document’s use is recommended for community benefit professionals, population health leaders, mission leaders, Faith Community Nurse coordinators at health systems and Faith Community Nurses.

A Blessing of Healing Hands

Yours are the hands full of experience and skill.
Yours are the hands reaching out with compassion,
Taking time to show care, swiftly taking action.

Yours are the hands gently touching your patients.
You touch families, too.
Yours are the hands that show you care.
You lift the hearts of those who suffer.
Your hands celebrate the joy of healing.
Your hands bless all they touch with the spirit of compassion,

Thank you for sharing your abundance and gifts,
For touching lives and lifting spirits.
Blessings and thanks for the many works of your hands.
May your hands bring healing to all those you touch.

To anoint, get a small amount of oil on your thumb and make a small sign of the cross in the palm of the other person's hand. Each person first receives anointing on the palm of their hand and then turns to the person next to them and anoints their hand with these words:

"May God bless your hands for healing."