Martha
Blondin
May 2026
Martha
Blondin
,
MSN, RN, ONC
University of Iowa Health Care - MSS Division
Iowa City
,
IA
United States
To say that Martha has spent her career advocating for improved patient care and experience would be an understatement.
For over four decades at UI Health Care, Martha Blondin has been a trusted leader in orthopedic and medical–surgical nursing, modeling evidence‑based and compassionate care. She strengthens practice through mentoring residents, supporting new units, and serving as the key educator for the new orthopedic hospital. In her 40+ year career, she has not forgotten that the patient is the priority. She melds that together with protecting and supporting nursing teams. She takes time to recognize the individual – whether that’s peers, team members, visitors, or patients.
A leader since 1987, she has consistently demonstrated exceptional commitment to developing both herself and others. Since 2011, she has trained more than 5,000 NAs/PCTs in mobility skills that protect staff and patients. One PCT shared, “Martha is knowledgeable, dynamic, and truly cares about us.” She also teaches divisional education, where she has educated over 10,000 nurses, PCTs, travelers, and leaders. Her influence is deep, and staff rely on her unwavering support to provide exceptional patient care.
She serves as a role model to others, shaping countless careers by lifting others with grace, wisdom, and unwavering belief in their potential. She is a welcoming presence for new nurses, a steady guide for nurse residents, and a trusted mentor who helps nurse leaders grow with confidence. Her commitment to nursing practice shines through her work in the orthopedic community and her 20+ years of advocating for safe patient handling. Her contributions have strengthened our profession and set a standard of leadership for years to come.
To say that Martha has spent her career advocating for improved patient care and experience would be an understatement. Her career reflects an unwavering commitment to advancing high‑quality care across the organization. Some examples include the Blood Transfusion Group where she advocates for best practices in blood transfusion management, chairing the Patient Education committee since 2007 where she manages 600+ home care instructions, and her passion for patient safety when it comes to anticoagulation management where she audited Heparin infusions within her division for 15+ years.
Martha’s positive influence extends far beyond the walls of UI Healthcare as she has served as the Hawkeye Chapter of the National Association of Orthopedic Nurses for nearly 30 years and has provided national presentations, lectures, and publications that advance the science of orthopedics, safe patient handling, and mobility. She carries with her a profound need for every healthcare provider to practice with a keen ethical and moral conscience regardless of place of employment. Martha knows the patient experience and outcome are what matter. As mentioned above, she has mentored innumerable nurses, nursing students, and ancillary staff, but she always educates medical/surgical residents, medical students, and faculty physicians along the way, making her influence far beyond UI Healthcare.
A leader since 1987, she has consistently demonstrated exceptional commitment to developing both herself and others. Since 2011, she has trained more than 5,000 NAs/PCTs in mobility skills that protect staff and patients. One PCT shared, “Martha is knowledgeable, dynamic, and truly cares about us.” She also teaches divisional education, where she has educated over 10,000 nurses, PCTs, travelers, and leaders. Her influence is deep, and staff rely on her unwavering support to provide exceptional patient care.
She serves as a role model to others, shaping countless careers by lifting others with grace, wisdom, and unwavering belief in their potential. She is a welcoming presence for new nurses, a steady guide for nurse residents, and a trusted mentor who helps nurse leaders grow with confidence. Her commitment to nursing practice shines through her work in the orthopedic community and her 20+ years of advocating for safe patient handling. Her contributions have strengthened our profession and set a standard of leadership for years to come.
To say that Martha has spent her career advocating for improved patient care and experience would be an understatement. Her career reflects an unwavering commitment to advancing high‑quality care across the organization. Some examples include the Blood Transfusion Group where she advocates for best practices in blood transfusion management, chairing the Patient Education committee since 2007 where she manages 600+ home care instructions, and her passion for patient safety when it comes to anticoagulation management where she audited Heparin infusions within her division for 15+ years.
Martha’s positive influence extends far beyond the walls of UI Healthcare as she has served as the Hawkeye Chapter of the National Association of Orthopedic Nurses for nearly 30 years and has provided national presentations, lectures, and publications that advance the science of orthopedics, safe patient handling, and mobility. She carries with her a profound need for every healthcare provider to practice with a keen ethical and moral conscience regardless of place of employment. Martha knows the patient experience and outcome are what matter. As mentioned above, she has mentored innumerable nurses, nursing students, and ancillary staff, but she always educates medical/surgical residents, medical students, and faculty physicians along the way, making her influence far beyond UI Healthcare.