The effort is largely focused on getting volunteers where they are needed and on providing emergency nursing refresher courses for those medical professionals who have not handled trauma or shock patients in years.
Kol Israel Nurses Association (KIN), initially a WhatsApp group for ultra-Orthodox nurses, now boasts 1,400 volunteers aiding 4,500 wounded individuals in Israeli hospitals. Faculty from JCT’s Selma Jelinek School of Nursing established KIN to bolster the strained healthcare system. Most volunteers are JCT nursing students or grads. This initiative aligns with JCT’s longstanding support for Israel. Many JCT students, including 75% of male nursing students, were drafted by the IDF. Others contribute through hospitals, Magen David Adom, and United Hatzalah.
Waves of nursing volunteers
Hana Garencia, a 21-year-old from Bnei Brak, is a third year JCT nursing student who has already volunteered five times at Sheba-Tel Hashomer Medical Center. There, Garencia has helped by taking up tasks generally completed by registered nurses. But during these times, they are far too busy, and the help is urgently needed.
“I changed sheets, served food and tea to patients. The medical teams cannot get to these needs due to the high patient volume,” shared Garencia. She added, “I felt that I was needed and useful. During a war, when so many people feel helpless, it felt good to provide meaningful and helpful care.”
Another nursing student, Odelya Ross from Jerusalem, is a volunteer with United Hatzalah, one of Israel’s emergency response organizations. She rushed down south with her team on October 7 where she worked frantically to help the wounded and save lives. Subsequently, she was conscripted into the National Medical Corps and is now serving on the Gaza border.
Odelya Ross
Emergency Nursing Refresher Courses
Expedited training offered in partnership with Crisis Rescue Foundation (CRF)] and KIN, enhance the skills of JCT nursing students and graduates in providing trauma-focused emergency care. Over 300 Selma Jelinek School of Nursing participants have learned life-saving techniques through these workshops.
Dr. Sharon Raymond, a general practitioner and director of the UK-based non-profit organization Crisis Rescue Foundation (CRF) emphasizes the importance of equipping healthcare professionals to handle crises, both medically and psychologically.
Additionally, JCT is providing crisis intervention training for psychological trauma, offering immediate support to prevent PTSD.
JCT is extending training to its staff and students, and opening it to the public, emphasizing basic life-saving skills both for critical care and crisis intervention.
An Emergency Aid Kit costs $250
