Dina Bressler
“Moments That Spark Joy”
Dina Bressler attended Touro’s Lander College of Arts and Sciences for her prerequisites for nursing school. She decided to become a nurse after volunteering at a hospital the summer after she graduated high school. “I needed something to do and thought it would be a good experience, but I didn’t realize how much I would fall in love with nursing,” said Bressler. “Being in nursing school has made me even more passionate about the field.”
Why did you decide to become a nurse?
I witnessed firsthand the work that nurses do and how much they contribute to healthcare as well as the incredible impact they have on people’s lives. Being ill is terrifying; you don’t have control over your body. As nurses we are able to assist someone during that time and it is an honor.
What is the chief responsibility of a nurse?
Advocating for the patient and being the patient’s representative in the healthcare system and the healthcare team. As a nurse, you understand the patient and you’re empathetic and emotionally available. But you are also on the medicine side of the divide, understanding what’s going on with the patient and the procedures. You are the bridge between the two parts of proper medical care. That’s a big part of what we do and why nurses are so important.
Has nursing school changed you?
100 percent. Nursing school has changed the way I view and interact with people. We see people at their weakest and in a way, it makes you stronger because you must be strong enough to help support them. Being a nurse requires strength and empathy and having a balance between the two. That’s what I gained from nursing school.
What’s the single most memorable experience you’ve had in clinicals so far?
I’ve had a lot of memorable experiences, but I don’t think I could narrow it down to a single experience that affected me. It’s not one moment, but all the moments when someone comes over to you and says, ‘My experience or my journey is different because of you.’ Those are the moments that spark joy and make you realize this is what you want to do.
