A Lifetime of Caring: Wagga Nurse Reflects on 48 Years of Service
With a dedicated career spanning nearly five decades, Louise Wood, a nurse at Wagga Base Hospital, is retiring after 48 years of selfless service. Her journey began at 17, when she fell in love with caring for people, and she has never looked back. Wood has witnessed significant changes in the profession, including improved patient outcomes and reduced hospital stays. She reflects on the camaraderie among nurses, which has been a constant throughout her career, and expresses concern about the challenges faced by new nurses, including high expectations and limited support.
Key Takeaways:
- Louise Wood has worked as a nurse at Wagga Base Hospital for 48 years, retiring on Wednesday.
- Wood began her career at 17 and has seen significant changes in the profession, including improved patient outcomes and reduced hospital stays.
- She has witnessed the introduction of new technologies and medical advancements that have improved patient care.
- Wood emphasizes the importance of camaraderie among nurses, which has remained a constant throughout her career despite age gaps of up to 50 years.
- She believes that new nurses face significant challenges, including high expectations and limited support.
- Wood hopes to spend time with her 10 grandchildren and two great-grandkids in her retirement, and may continue to work as a nurse on a casual basis.
Statistics:
- 48 years: the length of Louise Wood's nursing career.
- 17: the age at which Wood began her nursing career.
- 1976: the year Wood became a nurse.
- 10 grandchildren and 2 great-grandkids: the number of family members Wood looks forward to spending time with in her retirement.
- 50 years: the age gap between some of the nurses Wood has worked with.
Sources:
- Emily Anderson (Byline), "The nurse will hang up her scrubs" (exact quote).