Mindfulness and hand care

Win Kamaputri

As the world comes to grips with a global pandemic we spend more and more time washing our hands and squirting hand sanitiser! The message is that hand hygiene is one of the most important measures to help prevent virus transmission – none more so than in a hospital environment and especially for frontline health-care workers.

Despite advanced technologies, the human hand and hygiene play a pivotal role in the process of prevention and healing. Just ask Rev Nicholas Rundle, the Uniting Church Chaplain at the Royal Adelaide Hospital (RAH), who developed the practice of Mindful Hand Care.

Nicholas cares directly for COVID-19 patients and families as he is the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and Critical Care Liaison Chaplain. In consultation with key RAH staff, he developed and continues to promote the Mindful Hand Care program for the Central Adelaide Local Health Network and two UK National Health Services Trusts. It’s a five-step series of brief meditations that re-set awareness and attention.

‘During COVID-19, when staff are highly anxious about infectious patients, Mindful Hand Care becomes all about a patient-centred care approach,’ said Nicholas.

It starts with taking the time to stop and to shift the focus into sensing the body by standing fully upright with the feet slightly apart. Three sighs follow to release the breath after inhalation. Then rub the hands with gel for 20 seconds whilst putting aside any other thoughts. Ask yourself, How am I feeling? What is on my mind? Before releasing another breath and moving onto the next task to conclude the exercise.

‘The process helps to avoid mistakes and maintains the focus on the patient. Blood pressure and heart rates drop, the breath lengthens, the body relaxes, the mind becomes clear and there is more energy to take on the next patient or task,’ said Nicholas.

As someone that has meditated for over 40 years and as a qualified Secular Mindfulness Meditation teacher, he affirms that for him often meditation helps keep his focus and awareness in Christ, especially when supporting end-of-life patients in traumatic situations.

During the week he runs mindfulness sessions at the RAH Chapel and Queen Elizabeth Hospital. Guiding people through a breathing meditation, a loving kindness meditation or a wordbased meditation. He also provides workshops where he trains the patients and health-care workers in a series of ‘spot’ meditations.

In the Uniting Church, opinions about mindfulness meditation and its impact may vary. However, many Christian counsellors use meditation in a Christ-integrated way as a therapy tool to teach about taking on the mind of Christ. Mindfulness can be compatible with a biblical world-view – as long as it is rooted in scripture and focuses on connecting with God.

For Nicholas, meditation builds bridges where conversations about the Gospel, the Church and the life-changing message of Jesus naturally occur. ‘It’s a ministry of prayer and healing, reconciliation and care. Jesus was able to be fully present to all he met and meditation helps me to do the same, especially when praying in full Personal Protective Equipment with a family,’ said Nicholas. For more information, contact Rev Nicholas Rundle on 08 7074 1122 or email nicholas.rundle@sa.gov.au

Frontier services BBQ & Campfire & Messy Church - September 27, 2020 Bell Paddock, Willunga Uniting Church

‘The Alberton Art Trail’ is a walking trail of public art created with, by and for the people in the neighbourhood. The artworks are intended to explore the multiple meanings and experiences of ‘home’ for the local community and enable local people to meet and be creative together.