Jennifer Martin: The Path from Candy Striper to RN
One Vinton, VA’s Nurse’s story
By Joan Tupponce

JENNIFER MARTIN

Growing up, Jennifer Martin, RN, teetered between two careers - nursing and teaching. After a stint as a candy striper at the age of 13, there was no more guessing.

"Once I got that job I knew that I wanted to be a nurse," Martin says.

Martin's new position as Executive Director of the Med/Surg Critical Care Area for Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital is one that she savors.

Born in Vinton , Virginia , Martin, 41, headed to Radford University after finishing high school. "I did well in high school but I struggled in college," she recalls, adding that she left Radford to attend Virginia Western Community College where she received her associate degree in nursing.

Martin started her career as a staff nurse in the Progressive Care Unit at Carilion Roanoke Community Hospital . The position combined her love of nursing with her love of teaching. A year later, she accepted a preceptor role, mentoring new nurses. That led to a promotion to Clinical Team Leader. Shortly thereafter, a director's position opened up.

"That's not the normal step but they grouped the coronary care and progressive unit together," she explains. "I never thought I would be in management but they wanted somebody to be in the position that cared and understood the working of the unit."

In 2002 the hospital was moving toward Magnet Status. Martin co-chaired the group that was putting together the information needed to apply for the sought-after status. The hospital achieved Magnet Status in 2003. "After we got the status we realized we needed a paid position to retain magnet status and also focus on nursing quality," Martin says. "I accepted the position of Nursing Performance Specialist and Magnet Coordinator."

"I always told people I was special," she adds, laughing.

The broad scope of the job wasn't what Martin wanted at this point in her life. "It wasn't the level of problem solving that I had enjoyed before," she comments.

What she realized that she valued the most was staying close to the bedside. "I felt like I understood the trials and tribulations and how you get things done for patients on a daily basis," she says.

In her current job, Martin is responsible for three ICU and three step-down units in the areas of med/surg and neurotrauma. The job offers her the chance to once again connect with patients. "I've always enjoyed giving," Martin says. "I like working together with a physician to problem solve to improve the life of the patient."

Even though her schedule is demanding, Martin has found time to return to college to pursue her master's degree in nursing - she received her bachelor degree from Radford in 1993. Currently she is studying at Jefferson College of Health Sciences in Roanoke . The college is affiliated with Carilion Medical Center . Martin will graduate in 2007.

"I always wanted to go back to school," she says. "I had wanted to get an MBA but after getting into performance improvement I realized that wasn't where my heart is so I decided to get my master's degree in nursing."

The coursework is intense but Martin is already seeing benefits. "I'm gaining knowledge faster," she explains. "I see myself using what I am learning in each class. I can see the payback."

A wife and mother, Martin spends her downtime with her family. "I love to read things that have no educational value [when I'm off from work]," she confesses.

Albeit chaotic at times, Martin wouldn't dream of changing careers.

"It's the little things in nursing like a thank you or seeing someone you can make more comfortable that are rewarding," she says. "There are days when we all don't like our jobs. I know that I could back, if need be, and be a bedside nurse and that's okay because I love nursing."