Career profile: Patricia Kelly

Why did you become a nurse?

When I was about eight years old, I was in hospital for two weeks. I was fascinated by the nurses in their uniforms, looking very important. I had wanted to be an air hostess, but from that moment on, I wanted to be a nurse. As I got older, I realised that it was also a really good profession to be in – a job for life.

How has your career developed since you started nursing?

After qualifying, I worked for a year on a medical ward, before working in a very large food factory as an occupational health nurse in Suffolk. When I returned to London, I briefly worked in a nursing recruitment agency then spent a year at the recovery ward of a large North London hospital. I enjoyed looking after the children who came down to theatre, and applied to work as a staff nurse on the children's ward where I stayed for three years before moving into the community. I became a school nurse and worked for 15 years in Harrow, in north west London. In 2001, I undertook health visitor training, went back to school nursing for a year as a team lead. I have been working as a health visitor since 2003. In 2009, I undertook the training to become a practice teacher, and last year I became the associate practice teacher for my trust.