ER Nurse is Always Prepared: Community Hospital, South Campus

by Vickie Jenkins, Staff Writer

Community Hospital has two campuses featuring a comprehensive range of medical services and high quality care.
Community Hospital’s south campus is a full-service hospital serving Southwest Oklahoma City and the surrounding communities including Blanchard, Moore, Newcastle, Norman, Mustang and Tuttle. (story continues below)

Community Hospital’s north campus offers inpatient and outpatient services, including diagnostic imaging and direct access to physician offices.
ER Nurses are the first line of defense when responding to patient injuries, trauma or allergic reactions. They are always prepared to respond to emergencies, assist doctors in emergency medical care and ensure a high quality of nursing standards are maintained, among other duties.
It takes a special person to be a nurse. It also takes a special person to be a nurse in the ER. One outstanding nurse, Juan Martinez, can be found working in the ER at Community Hospital, South Campus.
Growing up in Duncan, OK, Juan knew that he wanted to be a nurse. “I was very involved in my parents’ healthcare and I saw an opportunity to help others. I have always been one to care for others and it just seemed like the perfect career for me,” Juan said.
“I attended nursing school at OSU-OKC and have been a nurse for ten years. My first job was here at Community Hospital, working as a tech. I knew that I wanted to become a nurse and care for patients. That was when I decided that this was the place for me and I have been here ever since. I enjoy working here because the staff and my co-workers are amazing. It is nice to want to go to work and feel like I am working with family. Everyone is so close,” Juan commented.
“I think that every nurse needs have good listening skills and good communication skills. When a patient comes into the ER, we all have to be able to see what is going on, along with keeping the patient and their family calm. That is one of the biggest challenges; meeting patients’ expectations and getting them to understand we are there to help them in every way that we can,” Juan said. “On the other hand, the biggest reward that I get from being a nurse is when people put their trust in me to take care of the situation. They need medical attention immediately, and sometimes, it’s hard for the patient to realize that we are doing the best we can in the best way we know how,” he added.
“Am I more of a leader or a follower? I think I am a little of both. I take directions well and am very task oriented. In the ER, we have to be ready to help each other in any way that we can,” Juan said.
“A typical day of work for me consists of treating a diverse population of patients that come through the ER with a wide variety of ailments. With COVID-19, it has been a real struggle for doctors, nurses, and all of the other frontline workers.”
What advice would you give to someone going into the medical field? Juan replied, “Make sure your heart is into your job and make sure you are prepared to care for others.”
Juan is married to Jackie and they have one daughter, Julia. Juan likes spending time with his family and is a big sports fan. “When I was asked to describe myself, I have to say that I am very laid back and easy going. I am very easy to get along with,” he said with a smile.
“I can tell you about COVID-19 from experience. It was about two months ago, I tested positive for COVID-19. I experienced respiratory symptoms that landed me in the hospital for six days. I was fortunate that I received excellent care that included convalescent plasma and antiviral treatment. I am fortunate that I responded well and have made a full recovery. I cannot recall a time in my life when I was as sick as I was. Being in the hospital and on oxygen and separated from my family was very difficult. It really put in perspective what the families and patients go through when I see them daily,” Juan explained. “Of course, PPE and masks are worn by all here at the hospital. Also, we try to be diligent about wearing masks and hand hygiene outside of work as well.”