America’s Oldest Working Nurse Finally Retires At 96-Years-Old Which Means She Has Been In Nursing For Over 70 Years
Tacoma, Washington. Where do you see yourself being in your 80’s or 90’s?
Relaxing in retirement? That’s what we all want, except for a few who enjoy being busy in little ways.
In a generation that wants to earn well and retire soon to enjoy the luxuries of this life, there is one woman who defied everything to still work, at 96.
A 96-year-old woman has decided to retire from a hospital in Tacoma, Washington, where she was the country’s oldest working nurse.
Florence “SeeSee” Rigney, the oldest working nurse in America, is retiring after more than 70 years in the profession, according to MultiCare Health System. Friday, July 16, 2021, was her last day.
The medical world had only recently been introduced to Penicillin when Rigney began her nursing.
Rigney worked hard from the start of her profession as a student nurse at Washington’s Tacoma General School of Nursing. She only took a “leave” from nursing to raise her two children.
“I don’t enjoy sitting around; I have to be productive.” Rigney remarked, “It’s in my personality.” “I’m not sure what made me want to be a nurse, but it’s something I’ve always loved to do.”
Working as a nurse, according to the hospital, has kept Rigney quite busy. She’s worked as an operating nurse all over the country and can walk up to three miles during her shifts, according to her Fitbit.
MultiCare Health System; pictured above is Florence “SeeSee” Rigney
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Rigney did make an attempt to slow down at one point. She submitted her retirement papers when she was 65 years old. This, however, only lasted around six months.
She realized she needed to get back into the flow of things if she wanted to stay smart and active.
She returned to Tacoma General to work full time, then transitioned to part-time only a few years ago, continuing to prep surgical rooms and patients part-time. She went back to work as an operating room nurse, prepping rooms for surgery and filling in as needed.
“SeeSee has never been one to slow down, even in her nineties.” Laureen Driscoll, president of MultiCare Tacoma General and Allenmore Hospitals, remarked: “that some of her co-workers teased that to keep up with her, they had to rush.”
“She continued to be a dedicated nurse and a valuable asset for her co-workers and the community. Stopping to consider the tens of thousands of lives she has touched is humbling. Everyone at MultiCare appreciates SeeSee’s unwavering commitment and service, and we’re happy to pay tribute to her by assisting tomorrow’s nurses “she added further.
Rigney shared some advice to other nurses as she said goodbye to her cherished job.
In a press statement, she advised, “Never think you know everything.” “I did something very similar in the operating room since you had to have your eyes alert at all times. It is impossible to stop learning.”
She is looking forward to spending more time with her family and friends now that she is retired. Since she initially put on the white uniform of a student nurse at the Tacoma General School of Nursing, Rigney has seen a lot of changes and medical advancements. Her legacy will continue to inspire future generations of nurses.
The hospital established the SeeSee Rigney Nursing Endowed Scholarship Fund in her honor, which will provide scholarships to MultiCare workers for ongoing nursing education and growth.
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