Amy Ritchie began nursing in the 1970s, and she said it was always how she wanted to spend her life.
"I started two days after my 16th birthday, in November 1974. I always wanted to be a nurse, don’t know why. Mum always said it was either a nurse or a bricklayer, and I couldn’t do that because the apprenticeship was in Wellington," she said.
Mrs Ritchie moved to Dunedin, living in a nurses’ home, working at the hospital and collecting clean habits.
"I worked in the sterile supply department, basically washing dishes. Surgical instruments have to be pristine. I’m still fussy with my dishes," she said.
From there it was different hospitals, roles and workloads, including when Mrs Ritchie got a good insight into just how busy nursing can get.
"I worked at Parkside hospital, a geriatric hospital. I was in charge of a ward with one supervisor for the whole hospital who worked in the afternoons. One nurses’ aid and me in charge of 24 elderly men.
"They complain today about staffing, they have no idea," she said.
There were difficulties, tragedies and road blocks, but she was proud to have stuck through it.
"Yeah, just do it. It is a challenge. I nearly pulled out of my bachelor’s degree at one point. I wrote the letter and I had it in the letter box, and I was about to drop it in. But then I pulled it back and thought don’t be ridiculous. You have done 20 something papers, Amy, you only have a few more to do. Just stick it out. So I pulled it back out and I went home and I ripped it up and I finished the assignment and I handed it in and I think I got an A-plus," she said.
She said there had been a sea change in the way doctors and nurses co-operated and communicated throughout the years.
"It’s been a really amazing career. I’ve seen nursing change so much like we’ve gone from the military hierarchy system through to now, where nurses are actually advocating for patients. We’re actually liaising with doctors. You would never have done that 40 years ago. You were in your place and you stood to attention when the doctor came out."
Mrs Ritchie said to be a good nurse one had to keep an open mind, perked ears and leave the ego at the door.
"You always have to be learning. Everyone has something to teach you, you won’t know everything. And never be frightened to say ‘hey, I don’t know’."
Gore Health Clinical Manager Glenda Maxwell said Mrs Ritchie would be greatly missed.
"She has such a passion for her patients, she’s a very strong advocate for them. She adapted to change, she’s always keen to look at solutions to challenges.
"She leaves behind a legacy for her commitment and passion and loyalty to Gore Health and the whole community," she said.
Gore Health chief executive Karl Metzler said the accomplishment spoke to Mrs Ritchie’s dedication to helping people.
"What could you say? 50 years. It’s one hell of a milestone in the modern era.
"A lot of people don’t stick to a career, and I think it shows what a vocation nursing is for a lot of people. It’s a testament to Amy and her commitment to caring for people," he said.
Mr Metzler said Gore Health was losing a valuable member of the team.
"We’re going to miss her enormously. She leaves a huge hole, the community will miss her.
"She’s created many strong relationships over the years and she takes a lot of nursing skills and expertise with her, but we wish her the very best," Mr Metzler said.
