Between the “little handkerchief” and the stethoscope: Bilal and his commitment to the Sanfermines

When the chupinazo explodes in the sky over Pamplona, the city is transformed into a sea of white and red. But while thousands of people are getting ready for the festival, Bilal Benbelkheir Núñez is getting ready to provide care.

Bilal is not just any nurse. In his day-to-day work, he stands out for his strong commitment to research as PhD student department Nursing Care for Adult Patients the School of Nursing at the University of Navarra. Under the supervision of Professors Nuria Esandi and Cristina Alfaro, he is working on a thesis focused on validating instruments to measure and improve family-centered care.

However, when July rolls around, Bilal balances his work at the San Miguel Clinic and his classes at the university with a calling that comes from the depths of his soul. For the past eight years, he has occasionally traded his uniform for a Red Cross vest, experiencing the adrenaline rush of the bull runs from a spot where few dare to be: the famous “gateras” in the alley—openings at the bottom of the fence right at the entrance Pamplona’s place —which allow runners in the place run to escape and take refuge quickly to avoid being caught by the bulls.

Here is his story, told in his own words:

 “I’ve been with the Red Cross for eight years; I began my career as a nursing student, and I’ve now been working as a nurse for six years. I balance my clinical work at the San Miguel Clinic with teaching the University of Navarra, but my volunteer activities the Red Cross offer a different perspective that allows me to see reality ‘from the other side,’ making it an extremely rewarding experience. From the very beginning, it has been a process of continuous learning: as a student, this work complemented my training gave me an in-depth understanding of the world of emergency care; today, as a nurse, I am the one who has the opportunity to guide students in their own learning.”

Throughout the year, we provide numerous ambulance on-call shifts and preventive services at events such as races, soccer games, and concerts. However, the Sanfermines stand out above all else due to Issue high Issue patients from all over the world and the wide variety of medical conditions they present. This year, as in previous years, I’m working night shifts on ambulances as part network the emergency medical network and participating in the bull run response team. My usual post is along the alleyway section, where we’re responsible for treating the runners at the well-known “gateras.”

Thus, between the adrenaline of the bull runs and the rigor of his research, Bilal sample the different facets of nursing—science, teaching community engagement—can be integrated. Whether he’s working to improve care for families or lending an expert hand amid the tension of the bull runs, his work reminds us that the spirit of the Sanfermines also shines through strongly behind a Red Cross vest.