Donate
Alumni
Login & Email
She teaches nursing at a community college during the week, she’s an emergency room nurse on the weekends, and in between Theresa Martinez is a graduate student at Nebraska Methodist College (NMC).
She also has a husband, four children and three grandchildren, and loves to travel. In the last few years, Martinez has traveled to South Korea, France, New York, Chicago and Seattle.
Her life may seem busy, but Martinez likes a challenge.
A Non-traditional Path to Nursing
As a young mother, Martinez needed to take advantage of the tuition assistance her employer offered. She earned her associate degree in accounting and her bachelor’s degree in business.
Her position in purchasing was eventually outsourced and she moved to maintenance where she worked for 18 years.
But an unexpected death in her small community drove Martinez to take a step in a different direction. She recognized the impact trained volunteers can have on a small community and became an emergency medical technician (EMT) for her rural volunteer department. She then worked as a paid reserve paramedic for Columbus Fire Department.
During her paramedic clinical rotation at CHI Health St. Francis in Grand Island, Martinez fell in love with the emergency room.
“I thought, ‘how can I do this full-time?’,” she said.
Martinez enrolled in the accelerated nursing program offered at St. Francis in partnership with Creighton University. While she attended nursing school, she also attended firefighter training academy with Columbus Fire.
“Theresa is an inspiring example of passion and perseverance in nursing. In our first conversation, she shared how her friend’s husband suffered a heart attack and didn’t receive the care he needed. This experience ignited her desire to be part of the solution, showcasing her deep compassion and commitment to nursing education,” said Katie Meints, graduate student success coordinator. “Starting as an EMT, she pursued her accelerated nursing degree while simultaneously attending fire school — a testament to her incredible grit and determination to serve her community. Theresa is driven by a heart for helping others and has already shown to have made a difference in healthcare.”
She received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing in August 2022 and began working as an ER nurse at St. Francis.
“I could see the immediate difference I was making in peoples’ lives,” Martinez said. “I came from an industry where you could fix things over time, but in nursing you can see the immediate impact on an individual.”
Martinez also liked that nursing offers opportunities for specializations and continued learning.
“There’s always an area to learn and grow. I love learning,” she said. “It wasn’t long before I knew I wanted to do more.”
Nurse to Nurse Educator
In her first six months as an ER nurse, Martinez earned board certifications in trauma (TCRN), emergency nursing (CEN), and emergency pediatrics (CPEN).
In 2023, she was awarded the Nebraska Emergency Nurses Association (ENA) Rising Star Award, which recognizes a new ENA member who has made significant contributions to the organization.
“I liked working with other people and seeing aha moments when they connected the dots and discovered that they could do hard things,” she said.
She began exploring graduate programs in 2023, and learned about NMC from a former instructor who attended the College. She also started working as an adjunct faculty member at Central Community College (CCC).
“When comparing schools, I looked at the different tracks offered, the cost and the convenience. I also wanted the option to transition to part-time, if needed. NMC had the flexibility I was looking for,” Martinez said. “Talking with admissions made me feel comfortable, the application process was very easy and I got to take advantage of the Nurse Faculty Loan Program.”
She also is a two time recipient of the Army Nurse Corps Association scholarship. One of her children is currently serving in the U.S. Army and her dad also served in the National Guard.
Martinez was offered a full-time faculty position at CCC and now works weekends as an ER nurse at St. Francis.
“I don’t want to be the best actor. I like being the best supporting actor. I like helping people see that they can do hard things and they can accomplish things,” she said.
Making an Impact, Clinical to Classroom
She’s appreciated that she’s been able to apply what she’s learning in the Master of Science in Nursing program to her teaching and her work as a nurse.
For a research project in her Health Policy and Systems-based Practice class, Martinez researched prenatal care in the emergency room.
“I would see the same patients coming back with issues that could have been treated by an obstetrician. I was able to take my policy project and implement it at St. Francis ER. We now offer resources for obtaining Women, Infants and Children (WIC) benefits, nutrition education, and obstetrics and midwife care,” she said.
Martinez said learning about the different learning styles and how to best reach students has improved her teaching.
She realized that she could offer virtual office hours for her students. During her first virtual office hour session, 17 students showed up. She’s since seen an increase in test performance and engagement.
“I realized that offering alternative modes of communication can improve performance in school,” she said.
Now, as a nurse and an educator, Martinez is beginning to see the impact she’s making.
“I got to be part of a whole circle moment. One of my former students is now a nurse in my department and I'm her orienter,” she said. “I get to watch them grow from a student into an independent functioning nurse.”
Martinez will graduate from NMC with her MSN in the nurse educator track in May 2025.
“A few years ago, I didn’t even know I would be a nurse or pursuing this education. I’ve been blessed with good role models and mentors to help me realize I can accomplish my goals,” she said.
Martinez plans to pursue her Doctor of Education after her MSN.
