I started my training to become a Registered General Nurses on the 26 March 1984 and it has been one of the best decisions I have ever made. My first post was in Renal Medicine where I completed the Renal Course and then General Medicine. I absolutely loved my time on the wards. I then moved into a series of Management posts. I would like to say that I planned my career however it was more a series of opportunities, I never imagined my career would have taken me to DHSSPSNI - I wonder how it all happened. I have studied throughout my career and completed a Diploma, a Bachelor of Science, a Masters and since then several Post Graduate Certificates. I feel very privileged to be a nurse and to have been able to grasp all the opportunities available. Everyday even though I am away from the bedside my work is about ensuring safer and better patient care. Is there anything I would change about my career path? Not one single thing! Good luck on yours.

As a nurse I have had many challenging days and have accompanied patients and colleagues on difficult personal journeys but I wouldn’t change a thing about my career. I have worked in Medical Wards and Accident and Emergency Departments and I learned something new every day. Later in my career I worked in the areas of Practice Development and Service improvement. Nursing allowed me to work part-time when I was bringing up my family and return to full time work when I was ready…giving me a great work-life balance. I am now Head of Professional Development in the Royal College of Nursing. Just as I did when I was a student nurse I still work every day to improve patient care and to develop the nursing profession. I am always proud to be a nurse.

I have been Chief Executive of NIPEC since July 2014. I worked at the Department of Health for 8 years before this, as a Nursing Officer and as Acting Chief Nursing Officer. Working in NIPEC and previously in policy within government was a fantastic opportunity to influence and shape things on the frontline across all services. I spent 23 years before this working as a nurse, then as a health visitor and as Assistant Director of Nursing, managing a range of community nursing services. It was in the community that I grew a passion and keen interest in child health services and a commitment to support preventative approaches through robust public health services. I also have a real belief that complex care can often be best delivered outside hospital settings in patients’ own homes where possible.

My name is Angela Patterson and I am the Lead Clinical Nurse Specialist in Bladder and Bowel Dysfunction in the South Eastern Trust. I have always been passionate about Continence Care, and think this stems from when I trained in early eighties, Continence promotion was not part of the educational curriculum, and this lack of knowledge encouraged me to learn more so that I could offer practical and evidence based advice to my patients. I have been part of the Continence Team for eighteen years, and my thirst for knowledge has seen me complete many courses, ultimately obtaining my Master’s degree recently. Urinary Incontinence is thought to affect 14 million adults in the UK, and is thought that 10% of the adult population will experience incontinence at some point in their lives and affects all age groups. My team and I still get a great deal of satisfaction when a patient gets backs their confidence, self-esteem and quality of life after becoming continent again. I am very proud to lead a team who have won eight local and National awards for innovation in practice, and who are as passionate about Continence Care as I am.