Nursing Graduate Learns True Meaning of Blessing of the Hands

Touch is a critical part of nursing care, especially when a patient’s family can’t be present

COVID may have postponed Lauren Lemieux’s formal graduation by one year, but it didn’t stop her from applying the virtues she learned as a student from the annual Blessing of the Hands ceremony. Lemieux, class of 2020 valedictorian, is a critical care nurse at MidState Medical Center. She resides in Bristol, CT.

“I didn’t realize how important the Blessing of the Hands ceremony was until I graduated and started working as a nurse and experienced the true importance of a nurse’s hands. During the past year I’ve administered life-saving medications, performed CPR to save a life, held the hands of a dying COVID patient whose family couldn’t be present, and shook the hand of a patient who came off a ventilator and survived COVID,” said Lemieux. On her days off, Lauren also volunteered in her community to administer COVID vaccines, including vaccinating her own grandfather.

“Working during COVID was a very stressful time, especially as a new grad. A calming outlet I discovered was diamond painting, including a canvas design which I felt signified my profession. I decided to present it to Dean Donius out of gratitude for her inspiring words to me as an incoming freshman about the role of a nurse,” Lauren added. “Dr. Donius said that the picture truly represented the heart of our profession and she was so proud that I made the connection between the Blessing of the Hands and the important work that nurses do.”