Emotions of the past year spilled over Monday for the Rev. Earl Gardner, a critical care nurse educator at Excela Health.

He and the Rev. Jeffrey Wylie blessed the hands of Excela Latrobe Hospital nurses and other staff — many of whom have cared for covid-19 patients — with frankincense serrata oil in a somber ceremony marking National Nurses Week, which was first established in 1954. Since 1994, the American Nurses Association had permanently marked the week to be commemorated annually from May 6 through May 12, which was Florence Nightingale’s birthday. Last year, it was extended across the month of May.

“These past 15 months have been challenging to say the least, would you agree?” Gardner said, his voice breaking. He took a deep breath and continued: “Through this pandemic, you have had the strength and the courage to carry out your duties with care, concern, compassion and commitment.”

The brief ceremony recognized the work hospital staff members have done during the pandemic to care for and comfort the ill. Excela Health’s three hospitals saw an increase in covid hospitalizations starting in mid-November that lasted for about two months. During that time, covid patients were very ill. About 500 people in Westmoreland County died between Nov. 1 and Jan. 30, according to state department of health statistics.

Luminaries symbolizing Nightingale, considered the founder of modern nursing starting in the 1850s, and the personal and community losses during the pandemic flanked the clergymen in a hospital hallway. The group of about 25 listened to prayers and had a moment of silence.

Clinical nurse coordinator Cari Reidmiller, 33, worked on a makeshift covid unit at Latrobe Hospital in December, during the height of the pandemic’s hold locally. It was tough to have patients be isolated from their families and for hospital staff to not have definitive treatment methods that worked for everyone.

“It’s definitely been a difficult year professionally,” she said.

The Penn Township woman recalled being constantly on the go during her time working with covid patients, regardless of how many were discharged. Outside of the hospital walls, she spent time doing things she loved — keeping in touch with families, reading and crafting.

On Monday, Gardner blessed her hands with the anointing oil.

“May the work of your hands bring healing to every life that you touch,” he said as the oil’s scent spread through the hallway.

Senior vice president and chief nursing officer Helen Burns said the challenges of past year has reminded many nurses why they selected the profession and its importance in health care.

“For me, it just represents the presence of nurses in patients’ lives. We are there from birth to death,” she said. “We are there, this year more than ever, for what needed to be done.”

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