When Bailey Martin graduated from North Iowa Area Community College with her Associate’s Degree in Nursing in 2024, she knew she was stepping into a career defined by compassion, resilience and continuous learning.
Today, as a Registered Nurse at Floyd County Medical Center (FCMC) in Charles City, Iowa, Martin is living that reality—making a difference every day on both the Medical- Surgical Unit and in the Emergency
Department.
A Career Built on Choice and Community
Martin’s path to nursing began long before graduation day. A Mason City native, she started taking NIACC classes in high school—both in-person and online—drawn by the college’s flexibility, welcoming environment and generous scholarship opportunities, including the Last Dollar Scholarship.
“The nursing program at any college can be intimidating and overwhelming,” Martin said. One lesson that stuck with her came during the notoriously difficult third semester of nursing school, when coursework focuses on cardiac and psychiatric care. “Mrs. Seibert reminded us often that we had choices, we could either choose to utilize the materials provided and utilize our time to study hard for success on the exams and in the clinical setting, or we could choose to do other things that may result in a poor grade or poor performance.”
From Behavioral Health to Emergency Medicine
After earning her degree, Martin accepted her first nursing position at Avera Behavioral Health Hospital in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. There, she worked with patients facing a range of psychiatric diagnoses—a challenging and rewarding start to her career.
Eventually, the pull of home brought her back to North Iowa, where she accepted a position at FCMC. The hospital has supported her professional growth by sponsoring her Advanced Cardiac Life Support, Pediatric Advanced Life Support and Trauma Nursing Core Course certifications—crucial qualifications for
emergency nursing.
“FCMC has so many opportunities for career growth,” Martin said. “Many of our staff are cross-trained to work in multiple departments, including the Medical-Surgical Unit, Emergency Department and Birthing Center.”
Finding Purpose in Rural Care
Working in a critical access hospital has given Martin the chance to serve patients across the lifespan and for a variety of reasons—from emergencies to routine care.
“Providing care to members of the community at FCMC has been a rewarding experience,” she said. “I enjoy building rapport with my patients and their families to make their experience at the hospital the best it can be.”
That sense of community extends to her colleagues as well. “We work very well together and are always willing to help each other,” Martin added. “I’m never afraid to ask a question or seek support.”
Her advice to current and future nursing students is simple: “Never stop asking questions and never stop learning. We can always learn something from someone.”
Looking Ahead
Balancing a demanding weekend night shift schedule with time for family and ongoing education, Bailey Martin exemplifies what it means to be a lifelong learner and dedicated caregiver.
Her journey from NIACC classroom to emergency care nurse shows just how far a solid foundation—and a few good choices—can take you.
