Olga Gochstein Receives Certificate of Excellence

Olga Gochstein, who coordinates the field of bedsores and stomas (an artificial opening to permit the passage of body fluids or waste products) and supervises nursing shifts at Schneider Children's, received the Certificate of Excellence from the Ministry of Health on International Nurses Day 2020. Olga has a BA and an MA in Nursing Health Sciences from Tel Aviv University and has practiced nursing for 23 years. She heads the multidisciplinary team at Schneider Children's which treats children and their families from the medical, emotional and social perspectives.

The Certificate of Excellence was presented to Olga at a ceremony organized by the Nursing Division to mark Nurses' Day, for her skill in the prevention and treatment of bedsores in children and for her breakthrough efforts in this field of Pediatrics in Israel. The field of Bedsores and Stomas in pediatric care was introduced at Schneider Children's in 2012 due to the need to provide a response to children hospitalized in intensive care, post-surgery, and those at high-risk for developing skin abrasions and bedsores. Schneider Children's pioneered the field including identifying patients at risk, formulating prevention and treatment protocols, and integrating multidisciplinary teams.

Among the many moving moments at the ceremony, Olga said that "I am honored to accept this award on behalf of the children at Schneider Children's and their parents, their families and the multidisciplinary teams, who care for them with a true sense of mission and responsibility to advance the practice of nursing and accord each child a life without suffering and pain, in health and physical and emotional well-being – irrespective of nationality, religion or race."

Olga dedicated her award to all the pediatric nurses who chose to work in the field of prevention and care of lingering bedsores as a lifelong endeavor – "who work for children from birth until 120 in the hospital, community and home."

Nurit Baruch, Director of Nursing at Schneider Children's, congratulated Olga with these words: "The hospital management and myself are proud to applaud Olga on receiving the Certificate of Excellence. Olga works tirelessly to help hospitalized children and their families; her skill and devotion are worthy of every praise. At work, she shows an outstanding spirit that typifies the nursing teams at Schneider Children's."