By Samantha Gee
Theatre nurse Barbara Chippendale remembers when she had to wash swabs so they could be reused by doctors in surgery.
The Nelson woman began her working life in the ward at Manuka Street Hospital in 1968. She was 15-years-old and her uniform consisted of a crisp white shirt and shorts set.
Chippendale, who is affectionately called Chips or Chippie by her colleagues, is retiring from Manuka Street Hospital next month after a 50-year nursing career.
“I just love looking after people and I made the right choice by coming here and working as a nurse.”
After starting out at Manuka Street Hospital, Chippendale did a stint at Nelson Public Hospital as it was then known, in the early 1970s.
She took a break from work to have her two children and in the 1980s returned to work at Manuka Street where she had remained ever since.
“I have noticed big changes, when I first started working here we used to wash the swabs and re-use them and I used to clean the surgeon’s shoes which doesn’t happen anymore.
“The surgeons in those days had to pay for their own gloves so we used to mend them.”
When Chippendale started in the industry it was all open surgery, but much of that work was now done laparoscopically.
Surgery had become more complex, the work that was once done by GPs was now delivered by anaesthetists.
She recalled that hernia patients would stay in hospital for a week to recover from surgery, but now they would be gone in a couple of hours.
Chippendale enjoyed the diversity of theatre nursing, she had done orthopedic surgeries, ear nose and throat and eye surgery.
She was well known for bringing a sense of style into the hospital. An effort was always made to match her lippy to her floral surgical scrub hat.
Making the decision to retire wasn’t easy and Chippendale said a few tears would be shed on her last day, but she felt the time was right.
“It’s a huge decision, especially when you have enjoyed your job.”
As for retirement plans, Chippendale said she planned to spend more time with her granddaughters and had a few overseas trips planned, including a cruise in Alaska.
Manuka Street Hospital general manager Margaret Gibbs said Chippendale had been a fantastic staff member and she wished her all the best in her retirement.
“She has been a trouper, she is very reliable and she always has a smiley face so we have been very privileged.”