EMCC Nursing Student Wins State Award

STARKVILLE – Nurse Brian Fitzgerald surprised exactly zero people by winning the Mississippi Health Care Association’s 2014 Caregiver of the Year Award for his area.

Fitzgerald, a 2009 graduate of East Mississippi Community College’s Practical Nursing program, received his award Thursday. The Milan, Tenn., native has worked at The Carrington Nursing Center in Starkville for the past four years.

“He is fantastic and he loves his patients. He finds out little things about them like their favorite candy or magazine and buys it for them with his own money. He’ll hug them on their birthday or sing to them or do whatever they want to make them happy,” said Susan Hodges, RN, director of Nursing at The Carrington.

He made a similar impression on his former instructors at EMCC.

“He was a very focused on becoming a really outstanding nurse during his time at EMCC. He has a passion for the elderly and a very big heart,” said PN instructor Linda Hebert.

Fitzgerald, who was nominated for his award by a family member of a resident at The Carrington, sees his style of nursing as both a duty and a pleasure.

“I try to come into work every day ready to help these people as much as I can. We’re like their extended family. We’re here to take care of these people, to make them as comfortable and happy as possible,” he said.

“Like any job, it has its pros and cons, but I would not want to do anything else. I love taking care of people and this is where I want to be.”

Fitzgerald credits his instructors at EMCC for preparing him for real world working conditions. In fact, he moved from Tennessee to the Golden Triangle specifically to attend EMCC.

“The program at EMCC is very hard, but the teachers are excellent. They made sure you knew what you were getting into and didn’t sugarcoat it. Their lessons are very well planned and when I graduated I felt like I knew what I was doing. It’s one of the best nursing programs in the state, if not the best,” he said.

Fitzgerald is considering returning to EMCC to pursue his Registered Nursing degree.