What brought you to nursing?

When I was 16, I began to search for my place in the world. In high school, while I was in the aeronautics and space program, I was preoccupied with the fields of physics, computers and electricity, and it was interesting for me. However, many times I searched for meaning, I felt and believed that I have what to contribute to mankind.

I started volunteering in Wolfson Hospital, in the internal medicine ward, as part of my personal engagement program during high school. Then, a new world of content was opened before me, one to which I've been exposed before in my life, one that is only familiar for those who work behind the doors of the ward.

From there I embarked on a new and very challenging path – a psychometric exam, registration for "Pisga" (the program of the IDF's academic reserve corps), admission to the Hebrew University in Jerusalem, and beginning my bachelor's degree. Upon graduation with the degree of B.S.N., I began an advanced course in military first-line medicine.

About the study period

During my study period, I worked as a student in Hadassah Ein Kerem, Internal Ward D. Later, I was integrated into various internal medicine wards as well as the COVID-19 intensive care unit. In those places I've been exposed to many medical miracles, but also to patients with complications and to instances of sad and painful death.

One incident served to sharpen and clarify to me the importance of our profession – a young patient, 47 years old, who arrived positive for COVID-19 to our ward and his condition deteriorated rapidly. Within fewer than 6 hours, despite medical treatment and the efforts to stabilize him, we were forced to ventilate him and to put him into medically-induced coma. The following day, the patient's heart stopped beating and the resuscitation attempts failed.

It was in such a sad incident that I got to experience what it means to nurse the patient on his last moments, to hear his last words, to hold his hand. I had the privilege to talk to his family and to communicate to them the messages that he wanted to communicate to his family after his death. Our professional is sacred work, humane and empathetic work, with people and for people.

Where are you today?

Over the course of last year, as a military nurse, I understand the importance of nursing in routine and emergency situations in the military setting. The tools and experience that I acquired over the course of my studies accompany me both on a personal level and a professional level, and constitute the basis for promoting the physical and mental health of the battalion's soldiers and combatants.

I recommend to every single person to choose a profession for life, to choose a meaningful profession with great satisfaction.

.