The Empathizer: Damarys Martinez Counsels Nurses to Care for Everyone “as if it was Their own Family”
My name is Damarys Martinez and I’m the second oldest of five girls, I was born and raised in the Bronx, NY. My mother immigrated to the United States from Dominican Republic and worked hard to provide us with the proper tools and education to be successful. I’m also a single mother or two kids. I like to spend time with my 14-year-old son [who] plays AAU basketball. I also enjoy spending time with my nine-year-old daughter and love spending time with my family and four sisters who have supported me throughout my college experience.
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I work in the plastic surgery, urology and step-down thoracic unit [at a major Boston teaching hospital]. In this unit I’m able to teach patients about their new stoma/stents, urostomy and or Foley catheter. I’m in the CAUTI prevention taskforce which allows me to gain more knowledge on alternatives, Foley care and maintenance and infection prevention methods.
Damarys Martinez - CNL
"The best part is the ability to teach and educate my patients on their new lifestyle changes. I work with surgical patients and I just enjoy being able to be their guide and resource person to help them adjust to their new surgery. I love being a preceptor and having the ability to help new hired nursed build their practice. I feel that all skills can be taught therefore, I work on helping them master the skills, but I always focus more on the compassionate part of nursing and allowing them to feel empathy and truly wanting to care for someone as if it was their own family."
The best part is the ability to teach and educate my patients on their new lifestyle changes. I work with surgical patients and I just enjoy being able to be their guide and resource person to help them adjust to their new surgery. I love being a preceptor and having the ability to help new hired nursed build their practice. I feel that all skills can be taught therefore, I work on helping them master the skills, but I always focus more on the compassionate part of nursing and allowing them to feel empathy and truly wanting to care for someone as if it was their own family.
The most challenging aspect is the inability to provide the one to one care and support you would like to provide to the patient. I work in a very busy department and I can have three to four patients during my shift and it can become difficult to provide the emotional support the patient deserves.
I love being a bedside nurse and having the ability to teach and educate my patients and new nurses and colleagues. I knew that by obtaining the clinical nurse leader degree I will have the opportunity to more successfully lead and educate a team of individuals to successful and safe nursing practice.
I decided to pursue my master’s degree because I have a passion for teaching and leadership. When I found out that [the hospital] partnered with Regis College to start the Clinical Nurse Leader graduate program I was the first person to apply. I was so excited that Regis was offering a program that will allow me to pursue my passion for leadership as well as enhance my clinical skills and knowledge to become a better teacher/mentor/preceptor and build a safer and more advanced practice. Regis has a great campus and professional faculty and I knew I [would have] a great experience.
The supportive staff and faculty allowed me to successfully complete the program. I was always able to speak with someone regarding financial aid, technical support, library resources and so on. My professors were always available and provided me with the necessary resources I needed and continual support.Damarys Martinez -CNL
My mentor, my professor Helene Brady, was very supportive throughout my graduate studies and kept me afloat when I felt I was drowning. I went through a lot of personal turmoil and I can remember her saying to me “remember that saying I had over my desk – It’s ok to want to quit, just don’t do it. This will be over before you know it”. This stuck by me throughout my graduate studies and kept me going even on my worst days, I will forever appreciate her support.
The supportive staff and faculty allowed me to successfully complete the program. I was always able to speak with someone regarding financial aid, technical support, library resources and so on. My professors were always available and provided me with the necessary resources I needed and continual support.
I have a passion for teaching and leadership. As registered nurse I feel a great sense of accomplishment when I’m able to use my educational background to assist and advocate for my patients in the hospital and in the community. I believe that education plays a vital role in shaping successful people because we learn how to meet and overcome challenges through education.
I’m a positive individual who strives to teach and motivate others as well as a divergent thinker who is not afraid to take risk in order to make important changes in the healthcare field. I’m working hard to inspire others and become a successful leader and educator.
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