When the coronavirus pandemic began, one Stony Brook University Hospital (SBUH) nurse came out of retirement to join her daughter on the frontlines.
Mary Beth Patterson retired from SBUH in December 2018 after being there for 12 years and moved to New Hampshire. Less than two years later, she heeded Governor Cuomo’s call for help and returned to Stony Brook to work per-diem. Mary Beth now works in the hospital’s Cardiac Cath Lab but has been floating to various floors due to the COVID-19 pandemic. She plans on continuing to do so as long as she is needed.
Her daughter Kelly Patterson began working at SBUH as a nurse in March 2018. She started in the cardiothoracic ICU and now works in the cardiovascular ICU.
“We don’t work in the same unit, but it would be an honor to work alongside my daughter,” said Mary Beth.
The two are very close and have been trying to coordinate their days off, during what can sometimes be an overwhelming time, to see each other. Not only are they extremely close, but they have celebrated so many milestones together in both their personal and professional careers.
Left: Kelly, in nursing school, with her mom; right: Kelly alongside her mother on her first day working at SBUH.
Mary Beth Patterson retired from SBUH in December 2018 after being there for 12 years and moved to New Hampshire. Less than two years later, she heeded Governor Cuomo’s call for help and returned to Stony Brook to work per-diem. Mary Beth now works in the hospital’s Cardiac Cath Lab but has been floating to various floors due to the COVID-19 pandemic. She plans on continuing to do so as long as she is needed.
Her daughter Kelly Patterson began working at SBUH as a nurse in March 2018. She started in the cardiothoracic ICU and now works in the cardiovascular ICU.
“We don’t work in the same unit, but it would be an honor to work alongside my daughter,” said Mary Beth.
The two are very close and have been trying to coordinate their days off, during what can sometimes be an overwhelming time, to see each other. Not only are they extremely close, but they have celebrated so many milestones together in both their personal and professional careers.
