Rhonda Martin, MPH, BSN, RN ICU Float Pool

Rhonda Martin’s enthusiasm for Nursing, expert clinical skills and undeniable compassion for patients know no bounds. This ICU nurse has traveled the world, volunteering her skills in relief efforts, research projects and charity missions, most recently in Rwanda in April with a group of BWH clinicians performing heart surgery.

“Whether Rhonda is providing clinical care at BWH or anywhere else in the world, she does it with compassion, enthusiasm and expertise,” said Float Pool Nurse Manager Cathy Rumble, MS, RN. “Just being in Rhonda’s presence is energizing.”

In 2004, Martin was part of a Himalayan Rescue Association and Wilderness Society-associated research project in Nepal investigating prevention and treatment of acute mountain sickness.

“Rhonda was absolutely invaluable to the success of the project through her dedication and determination, despite very harsh living conditions and significant obstacles to achieving project goals,” said Justin Venable, MD, registrar for Emergency Medicine at Christchurch Public Hospital in New Zealand, who worked with Martin on this project. “She could always be counted on to encourage everyone with her positive attitude and kind words, not to mention her humble and diplomatic approach to problem-solving.”

In particular, Venable noted Martin’s “uncanny ability to relate to many different groups of people on an intimate and personal level with positive energy,” an ability that Martin is widely known for at BWH.

As a Float Pool nurse, Martin cares for patients in the intensive care units and Emergency Department. In the role of STAT nurse, Martin simultaneously cares for patients during codes as she orients new nurses. “Rhonda involves new nurses in direct care of their patients during a code, coaching them about how to deliver drugs intravenously, assemble and use different equipment and maintain the patient’s dignity,” said Judith Perron, MSN, RN, nurse administrator. “After the code, she helps the nurse debrief and evaluate his or her clinical performance.”

Martin joined BWH in 1999 as a staff nurse in the ICU Float Pool. She also works as a travel medicine resource nurse at Mt. Auburn Hospital. Prior to joining BWH, she served at New England Medical Center in several positions, including clinical resource manager, project manager and assistant nurse manager. She also has held nursing roles at Methodist Hospital in Houston; Clinique de Genolier in Geneva, Switzerland; Mass. General Hospital, Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital and Good Samaritan Hospital in Puyallup, Wash. In addition to these positions, Martin also has done extensive volunteer work and participated in the Red Cross relief efforts for Hurricane Katrina victims.

Martin received her post-graduate diploma in travel medicine from the University of Glasgow in Scotland. She earned her MPH from the University of Texas at Houston and her BSN from Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma, Washington.

Rhonda Martin was nominated by Cathy Rumble, MS, RN, nurse manager, and James Roche, MEd, BSN, RN, former nurse in-charge of the Float Pool, now nurse educator on 10AB.