A mum and her daughter share their love of nursing on International Day of the Nurse
Mother and Daughter nursing duo Brenda and Erin Fitzpatrick share a special bond through their District Nursing roles within the local community in the South Eastern HSC Trust area.
On International Day of the Nurse, 12 May 2023, Erin recalls how she was inspired to take up the Nursing profession by her mother Brenda, as she knows how much she loves her job as a District Nurse.
Erin said: “Growing up, my mum has been my role mode. I remember she used to drive around and visit people in their own homes to care for them and she just loved it.
“I recall when I was about 6 years old, my dad and I used to call into her office at weekends.
“I would bring her pictures and I remember one particular one that I drew for her of us both, her as a nurse in uniform and me beside her, and she stuck it up on her wall beside her desk. Now, all these years later we both wear a nurse’s uniform!
“My mum is so compassionate and caring and I was inspired to be just like her. When my Granny was ill, the District Nurses who came out to care for her were fabulous and I saw first-hand what that care was like. I just knew that was what I wanted to be.
“My mum was so encouraging and supportive when I went on to study in John Moore’s University in Liverpool and she was so pleased when I qualified with my degree in November 2022, and when I secured my dream job in the District Nursing Team, Comber, which I absolutely love!”
District Nursing Locality Manager, Brenda Fitzpatrick began working as an auxiliary in a nursing home back in 1995 and aspired to be just like the Nurses who she worked with at that time.
She started studying to become a registered Nurse, qualifying in 1998. She secured a position in District Nursing, Downpatrick in 2001 when her daughter Erin was just one year old and she continued to progress in her career over the years.
Brenda completed her specialist practice in District Nursing and secured a post as a District Nursing Sister in Dunmurry in 2006 where she worked for 12 years.
Brenda went on to work as a Primary Care Manager in Lisburn and as the Locality Manager in Newtownards where she will be moving from shortly to take up a post as a Locality Manager in Downpatrick, where she was based for most of Erin’s young life.
Brenda is very proud of Erin and the career she is building as a Nurse. She said: “As we mark International Day of the Nurse, I want to stress that it has been a privilege for me to care for people in their own homes and become part of their families, in many ways.
“I hope my daughter enjoys her career in District Nursing as much as I have done.”
