A Conversation With... Jenny Fitzgerald
This week, we had A Conversation With... Jenny Fitzgerald. Jenny is a Medical Sister and works in the medical wing under Senior Sister Debbie Mundy. She joined the College in 2006, when she took on a part time nursing role. Now, 12 years later, she's still with us and brightening up the Medical Wing everyday!
What does your average day entail?
Dragging my son out of bed is always a highlight of my day, as is negotiating the impromptu traffic lights and road works that seem to multiply overnight. First thing when I arrive, we have a steady flow of Boarders and Day pupils with a variety of issues and the phone tends to be ringing constantly with information coming in from the houses or parents wanting to discuss their children. One of my lovely colleagues usually gets me a coffee, as I am not at my best until I have had at least two! The morning is spent going between pupils, parents, consultants and external members of the multi-disciplinary team in person, then in between visits I return phone calls back to parents and houses.
We also have pupils coming up to have treatment and sometimes just needing to offload. Lunchtime means that I get the chance to touch base with one of my colleagues as we are usually trying to arrange and carry out consultations in different rooms. The afternoon tends to be taken over by consultations and Sport injuries and catching up with the outstanding administration and again seeing the walking wounded.
What was the most challenging case you have dealt with?
Interestingly, the presenting cases are not usually the only problem unless it is a straightforward injury trauma. People are multi-faceted and it’s a bit like an onion, you solve the first layer and then there are multiple linked under-layers which need to be dealt with until you solve the issue.
How did you end up at Shiplake?
Accidentally actually! I was working as a Practice Sister and a friend phoned me to say that there was a vacancy for part time work was I interested and it went from there.
What is the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?
I was once told to ‘Stay true to yourself’ but since then I have also been told that ‘less is more’. I think that these are both equally valuable pieces of advice.
What were you like as a schoolgirl, and what was your favourite subject?
I’m sure that if you asked the Sisters that taught me at the convent they would have a lot to say! I feel that the words enthusiastic, genuine and chatty best sum me up. I really loved Human Biology so that was my favourite Academic subject but when I was younger I was very into Sports and Drama too.
Which of your own scars tells the most interesting story?
Probably the lead pencil scar on my leg from a challenging disagreement with my sister when we were about 8 years old.
What does the future hold for Jenny Fitzgerald?
I am doing some more academic study for interest at the moment and would like, when I have the time and inclination, to work on my supermodel tendencies that have so far been a bit latent. That, and getting back into doing some of the sport that I used to enjoy before I had my children.