Three remarkable nurses from Logan Hospital’s Neonatal Unit have recently celebrated 50 years in the nursing profession, marking an incredible 150 years of combined care and compassion.
Debby, Sue and Jeanette began their careers in 1975 and collectively recalled the time as an era of starched uniforms, handwritten charts and a culture where nurses were expected to do as they were told.
The increased autonomy and respect for the profession has been the most notable change for Debby, whose journey started at the PAH then took her across Queensland, overseas, back to QEII and finally Logan Hospital where she has stayed since 1993.
Debby’s career also spanned a chapter as a midwife which saw her deliver Logan Hospital’s very first baby, following the closure of QEII’s maternity services.
She returned to her neonatal roots in 2003 and has been a passionate advocate for Logan’s tiniest and most vulnerable patients ever since.
Sue has dedicated her entire career to neonatal care, with the past 25 years spent at Logan’s Special Care Nursery, now known as Ward 2N.
She said she had witnessed major shifts in clinical practice over the past five decades and still recalled a time when premmie babies were bathed in kidney dishes - a practice now unheard of.
Her favourite part of the job? Following babies home and continuing their care through home visits.
Jeanette, who also began nursing in 1975, was overseas during the team’s milestone celebration, but joined in via Facetime, despite it being 3am her time!
Still working regular shifts, Debby, Sue and Jeanette are proof that for some, nursing is far more than a job - it’s a lifelong calling.