Woman Believed to Be America’s Oldest Working Nurse Retires at 96

A 96-year-previous girl, considered to be the oldest performing nurse in the state, has retired from a Tacoma, Washington, medical center.

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MultiCare Tacoma Normal Clinic

Very last 7 days, Florence “SeeSee” Rigney retired as a nurse at MultiCare Tacoma Basic Hospital just after about 70 several years, in accordance to a push launch from the medical center. In the course of her vocation — which started as a student nurse at the Tacoma Common School of Nursing in Washington — Rigney worked continually, only getting a “break” from nursing to increase her two children. 

© MultiCare Tacoma Standard Medical center
Florence “SeeSee” Rigney from Tacoma, Washington retired following over 70 years as a nurse

According to the healthcare facility, doing work as a nurse has retained Rigney very lively. She’s traveled throughout the nation as an operating nurse and even logs up to a few miles on her Fitbit from strolling during her shifts.

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“I really don’t like to sit around – I have constantly received to have one thing to do. That’s my character,” Rigney explained in a statement, incorporating that she constantly wanted to turn into a nurse. “I love to interact with people and give them the support that I can.”

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Rigney planned on retiring when at age 65, but following 6 months, she made the decision that she wanted the job to remain energetic and hold her mind sharp. Now as she formally retired, the hospital pointed out that Rigney ideas on expending most of her time enjoying family members and mates. 

“Even working into her nineties, SeeSee has by no means been one to sluggish down. Some of her colleagues joked that they had to sprint to hold up with her,” explained Laureen Driscoll, president of MultiCare Tacoma General and Allenmore Hospitals in a assertion. 

“She’s ongoing to be a dedicated nurse and an extraordinary source to her colleagues and community. It truly is humbling to stop and believe about the hundreds and hundreds of life she’s cared for. Absolutely everyone at MultiCare thanks SeeSee for her unmatched perseverance and service, and we are very pleased to honor her by supporting tomorrow’s long run nurses,” she continued. 

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As she reported goodbye to her beloved work, Rigney supplied some tips for other nurses. 

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“Will not at any time feel that you know it all,” she pointed out in the launch. “I kind of did that when I was in the functioning room and you have to often be open up. You never halt finding out.”

In her honor, the healthcare facility introduced the development of its SeeSee Rigney Nursing Endowed Scholarship Fund, which will deliver scholarships to MultiCare workforce for continued discovering and enhancement in nursing.