UCC School of Nursing and Midwifery Annual Report 2020

Teaching, Contribution to Community and Practice, Awards

Blessing of Hands & Hospital Badge Pinning Ceremony Celebrated at Cork University Hospital

The Blessing of the Hands is a great way to celebrate the completion of a nursing programme. Blessing of the hands recognises and unites healthcare workers who’ve chosen the shared journey of caring for patients/clients. The hands are a symbolic representation of both therapeutic touch and the actions involved in providing nursing care. This group of students worked as interns during the height of COVID-19 which was a huge challenge, it was a time of great anxiety and uncertainty. They are to be commended for their contribution during COVID-19 which was a very important part of the national health service response. The ceremony was organised by Anne Kelly, Norma O’Shea and the mental health team. Congratulations to the class of 2020.

Cork University Hospital‘s traditional Ecumenical Blessing of Hands & Hospital Badge Pinning was celebrated on Monday, 21st Sept 2020 for BSc 2015 Children’s & General Integrated Nursing graduates of March this year. The ceremony had been delayed due to COVID-19. The traditional nurse ceremony was hosted in CUH Chapel of Christ Our Saviour Chapel, adhering to social distancing and government number restrictions. CUH Chaplin’s – Fr. Kieran O’Driscoll , Rev Daniel Nuzum & Ms Joanna Crowley assisted CUH Nurse practice Development team (Sinead, Clare, Bebhinn & Ann) to facilitate this event. The graduates were presented with CUH hospital badges. Warm congratulations and inspiring words were relayed by Ms Helen Cahalane (DON), Mr Ger Callaghan (CEO) & Ms Bridie O’Sullivan ( SSWHG C/DON & Midwifery). Lovely inspiring addresses were also given by Clinical Nurse managers: Ms Marie Watson & Ms Lucy McDonald. UCC colleagues in attendance were Professor Josephine Hegarty, Dr Margaret Curtin & Ms Maria O’Shea. Best wishes for this special occasion were received from Rachel Kenna, Chief of Nurse, Simon Harris and Niall Breslin. This beautiful and traditional ceremony marks completion of the BSc 2015 Children’s & General Integrated Nursing Programme. The programme is the combined efforts of staff of UCC’s School of Nursing and Midwifery and staff of the Cork University Hospital working in partnership with the students. Well done to all involved in preparing for this ceremony and huge congratulations to the graduates, the majority of whom are now working in Cork University Hospital.

https://youtu.be/7klI7USbEJ8

Year four Mental Health Student Nurses celebrated the completion of their BSc Nursing programme with a blessing of the Hands Ceremony at the Honan Chapel, UCC on the 10th September 2020.

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