Nurse leads recognition for public servant

When a 26-year veteran of the Colorado Springs Fire Department was treated at UCHealth Grandview Hospital, the last thing he expected was a round of applause.

But thanks to Charge Nurse Amanda Martinez, soon-to-retire Joe Tabarez was met by a hallway full of Grandview staff and providers. They showered him with praise and thanked him for his service as he walked through a pair of sliding, glass doors.

“I turned the corner and the walls were lined with people,” Tabarez, 63, said. “I was shocked at first and maybe a little embarrassed. Firefighters don’t do their jobs for recognition. It’s because we care about people.”

For Martinez, preparing the impromptu send-off was instinct honed by experience. As she walked through the hospital encouraging everyone to join in honoring Tabarez, she thought of the hundreds of public servants she’s met in 29 years of nursing, including 16 years at UCHealth, 13 in the high-volume emergency department at UCHealth Memorial Central.

“The folks who do these jobs – military, police, fire, EMS, paramedics – are amazing,” Martinez said. “They deserve our kudos and rarely get them. I wanted to change that.”

Helping those who don’t expect it is something Martinez does often, according to her supervisor, Tami Hollister.

“She’s a regular at going above and beyond,” Hollister said.

For Tabarez, the summer weekday began normally until his fitness routine was interrupted by a nosebleed. When the station’s EMTs couldn’t stop the bleeding, they took him to Grandview’s emergency department. As he was treated there, Tabarez shared there were only a handful of shifts left in a 26-year career with the local fire department and that he was an 18-year Army veteran.

“I got great treatment from everyone,” Tabarez said.  “Their actions were heart-felt. I wish I could have stayed and thanked them all in person, not only for what they did for me, but what they do for everyone they treat.”