IntelyCare Spotlights Ohio Licensed Practical Nurse, Jermaine Martin
We have a great team of IntelyPros across the US, and we enjoy highlighting the incredible work that they do.
Jermaine Martin is a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) who is based out of Cleveland, Ohio. He has only been an IntelyPro for a few short weeks, but in his time working with us, Jermaine has demonstrated to us that he is not only a great IntelyPro because he works hard and shows up to shifts on time – he’s also a team player that cares deeply about the well-being of his patients.
An administrator at one of our partnered facilities reached out to us to specifically to sing Jermaine’s praises, and to tell us how thorough and compassionate he was with a patient. This is what nursing is all about. We enjoyed getting to know this incredible nurse in our brief conversation, and we think you will, too.
Hi Jermaine, thanks for taking the time to chat with us. To start, can you tell us what made you decide to become an LPN?
There were really two pivotal things that inspired me to become a nurse.
One was that it was pretty much preordained. My mother is a nurse, my grandmother is a nurse, and two of my sisters are nurses.
The other was when I was 14 years old. I was playing football and I fractured my leg. When I was in the hospital, my mother was the room with me, and she made me feel so much better. That’s when I knew I had what it took to be empathetic and to make a patient feel better. When you’re sick and hurting, you don’t want to talk to anyone – but nurses have the empathy to break down that wall.
That’s great! What do you love most about being a nurse?
I enjoy connecting with new people and helping them heal. I have a special affinity for geriatric patients in particular – they always have a story to tell, and they’re more than happy to share their wisdom with you.
How long have you been a nurse?
I have been a nurse for 8 years. Almost nine.
Congrats! That’s a long time. What do you love most about your nursing career?
What I love most about being a nurse is the patients and the confidence being a nurse gives me. I’m at peace when I’m at work caring for others. And I love to hear the stories of patients and the lives they’ve lived – there’s a lot of wisdom and stories worth hearing there.
What kind of work were you doing as a nurse before IntelyCare?
Most of my experience has been at long term care facilities. I also worked in quality assurance overseeing other STNAs and offering leadership and advice.
The only problem was that it was tough to balance work and my life outside of work. I felt like even on my day off, I never left. I was just constantly thinking about what I was going to go into the next day. There was one time that I was literally getting a massage on my day off and I couldn’t relax because I was so worried about work and what I’d be walking into the next day.
That’s tough. Work is hard enough – days off shouldn’t be hard, too. What do you like most about IntelyCare?
I love the flexibility. When I’m at home, I’m home, and I can enjoy my time with my wife. I also like that IntelyCare offers creative incentives – it shows me that you appreciate us and the work we’re doing.
I do like the rating system a lot. It’s motivating to climb the ranks, and I love it when I get to see I got a 5-star rating from a facility.
It’s also nice to walk into a facility and they see that I’m from IntelyCare, and just assume I am going to be a good nurse.
You’ve been a nurse for almost nine years now and must have some teachable moments. What advice do you have for someone just starting out as a nurse?
The best advice to give to a new nurse is to always ask questions. Always be ready to learn. Always volunteer for the toughest projects. And just get comfortable being uncomfortable.
You know you’re learning when you find yourself in those uncomfortable moments.
That’s great advice! Alright, one final question. At IntelyCare, we think it’s important to have a life outside of work. What do you like to do for fun?
My wife and I love to travel. We’re just recently married, so I like to take her on vacations, shopping, and short road trips. Our favorite recent vacation was to Montego Bay in Jamaica, where we got to ride horses, see waterfalls, everything. It was amazing.
Thanks, Jermaine!
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