National Nurses United

laugh, "I had no idea what I was getting into!" In short order, Martin attended the JABC meetings and met Kaiser Division Director Jim Ryder, who helped her learn about the union, the power it gave her and her colleagues, and how to wield that power. Martin was hooked, and joined the bargaining team that same year. Only a year later, in 2003, someone suggested she run for election to the board of directors. Again, she joked, "I had no idea what I was getting into." Martin was successfully elected as Region 5b Director in 2003, and has held that position in two subsequent elections. Martin enjoys being on the board of directors because it allows her access to the big picture, and it helps her communicate the direction of the organization to her colleagues. She also enjoys participating in the making of history, "having your own footprint in it, as little as it may be." For her, part of advancing the big picture is working with colleagues to make political changes that benefit nurses and patients alike. "The laws don't work for nurses and patients, so we have to get involved," said Martin. "I work to help nurses learn they need to be political. You can't just do nothing and expect things to get better. I'd love it if we could relax and 'turn off ' when our jobs are done, but the truth is that we have to get out there if we want anything to change." One of CNA/NNOC's political campaigns that Martin supports wholeheartedly is single-payer health care. She often sees the deleterious effects of insurance company maneuvering upon her senior patients when they are at a time in their lives where they should not have to worry about how they can afford the care they require. Since most health care organizations follow stringent Medicare guidelines to determine what constitutes 'covered care,' she finds it necessary to do daily battle to prevent patients from being discharged before they are ready and able to care for themselves. "Patients suffer from these kinds of policies, and it my sincerest hope that a single payer system of health care will go a long way towards correcting this type of social and medical injustice," Martin says. "Cookie cutter medicine with rigid guidelines is harmful to patients and doesn't help anyone but the insurance companies." The complicated systems behind for-profit healthcare are just one factor in what Martin sees as a threat to the integrity of the nursing profession. She feels strongly about preserving and expanding the RN's scope of practice, mentioning that nurses have had their duties slashed dramatically in the last 150 years. "Nurses used to give comprehensive care—they could deliver babies and administer anesthesia," noted Martin. "Doctors lobbied to change that, and now there is a lot of care that can only be given by someone with an MD after their name. It's incredibly frustrating. Wanting to be able to do more for my patients is the reason why I became a nurse practitioner." Martin believes that one of the most effective ways of enhancing DECEMBER 2007 nursing practice and fighting to expand nurses' scope of practice is through supporting and enriching nursing education programs. "New nursing graduates today are not as confident as they were when I was a graduate," she said. "We were educated to go out and take charge in a hospital. I see too many people coming out of school today and feeling very unsure of themselves." This insecurity in recent graduates stems from a rising dependence on medical technology, believes Martin. "We've allowed our profession to be reliant on technology. We've forgotten how to touch peoples' lives directly." Fortunately, Martin's commitment to holding nursing to the highest standard guarantees that she is not the only one who is grateful that a nursing program found its way to a Chicago high school so many years ago. I Erika Larson is associate editor of Registered Nurse. Profile W W W. C A L N U R S E S . O R G Name: Bonnie Martin, RN, NP Facility: Kaiser Permanente Stockton Unit: Geriatric Medicine Nursing for: 35 years On CNA/NNOC board since: 2003 Sign: Leo Nursing Pet Peeve: People who complain but expect others to fix their problems Favorite Work Snack: Iced tea Latest Work Accomplishment: Helping to get the regional offices to revise their hospital-to-skilled nursing facility discharge order forms Hobbies: Reading and trying to catch some sleep. Favorite Musician: Andrea Bocelli Favorite Movie: All the Star Trek movies and The Three Burials of Melquiadas Estrada Currently Reading: The Dark Tower by Stephen King, "but my favorite book is The Life of Pi." Secret talents unrelated to nursing: Interior decorating REGISTERED NURSE 15

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