Bev Way has been turning up for work just 13 days shy of 51 years.
With that sort of service this registered nurse is such a familiar face at Wanganui Hospital that when she finally walks out the door on December 31 she will definitely leave a void.
She trained at
Hawera Hospital but after 10 years moved back to her home town of Wanganui and has been a fixture in the nursing team for the past four decades.
Ms Way graduated with a nursing degree in March this year, something that has taken her four years in between work and looking after elderly parents.
"I started off as a maternity general nurse, then I got a diploma of medical surgery at Wellington Polytech, and then I decided I wanted to do my nursing degree," she said.
Her family owned a farm at Parikino and she said if she had not chosen to be a nurse "I would have been a land girl".
Ms Way said there were some stresses with the job but there was never anything that had swayed her from leaving nursing.
She said she had been thinking about retirement but had plenty planned for her spare time.
She will retain her active interest in St John (she is assistant divisional manager of youth), hone her computer skills, and have more time for gardening as well as horse riding.
"My brothers gave me a horse and I'm going to be heading into the country at some stage."
Ms Way has been a witness to massive changes in the hospital system and the way health care is delivered.
"There's been a lot of changes and, while I can't say everything has been for the good, you have to move with the times. If I didn't do my nursing degree I don't think I'd still be here."
Ms Way's career has seen her work in every area of nursing, including wards and theatre, but she says she has derived the most pleasure working in outpatients.
Jeanette Black, general manager of the hospital, said Ms Way had nursed so many people during her career that "it's astounding".
"She's an amazing woman and would have nursed thousands of people that have come through our hospital," Ms Black said.
"In the letter I've written to her I told her that if I ever ended up in hospital she'd be the one I'd want to have looking after me."
There will a staff farewell for Ms Way in the New Year.
Bev Way has been turning up for work just 13 days shy of 51 years.
With that sort of service this registered nurse is such a familiar face at Wanganui Hospital that when she finally walks out the door on December 31 she will definitely leave a void.
She trained at
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