Nurse Honor Guard
A Nurse's Prayer
Give me strength and wisdom when others need my touch;
a soothing word to speak to them,
their hearts yearn for so much.
Give me joy and laughter,
to lift a weary soul;
pour in me compassion,
to make the broken whole.
Give me gentle, healing hands,
for those left in
my care;
a blessing to those who need me,
this is a nurse's prayer.
Mercy offers a Nurse Honor Guard to recognize and honor men and women who have dedicated their lives to the nursing profession. The Nurse Honor Guard gives tribute to individuals at the time of their death to appropriately pay respects to those who dedicated their lives to helping others.
Active and retired nurses volunteer their time to travel the area and honor fellow nurses as part of the Nurse Honor Guard. It is a privilege for the members of the Honor Guard to participate in recognizing nurses and help bring peace to mourners during their time of loss.
Services of the Nurse Honor Guard
There are several ways the Honor Guard can pay tribute to nurses:
- Honoring the nurse’s final call to duty
- Standing guard at the nurse’s casket
- Providing a presence at the nurse’s visitation
- Presentation of Florence Nightingale nursing lamp
- Recite “A Nurse’s Prayer” at the grave site or during a special service
Any of these services can be performed based on the family's request. Approximately four to six Honor Guard members will be available to participate at a service or funeral.
To request the presence of Mercy's Honor Guard at a nurse’s funeral or service, please contact Mercy Patient Care Services at (319) 533-8950.
If you would like to support the Nurse Honor Guard through a donation for supplies, the Mercy Foundation makes it easy. You can even honor a loved one.
Donations are not required and are completely voluntary.