After 60 years nursing, Sherry has no plans to retire

Sherry Burrows of Avoca Beach just celebrated 60 years as a registered nurse and still works four days a week with absolutely no plans to retire anytime soon.

Working in surgical pre-admissions at Gosford Private Hospital, where she has worked for 43 years, Burrows says she loves her job and loves meeting people.

Throughout her long career, Burrows, 77, has worked in many countries around the world and has hundreds of exciting and funny stories to share and a vast knowledge of nursing.

“It is a long time to be working, but I do love the job I have in surgical pre-admissions,” she said.

“I get time to be with the patients, talk to them and help them relax because most are having major surgery.

“Of course, like every job, it has its moments, but I do love it.”

She said she was considering retiring this year, possibly moving to Tasmania to be closer to her son, but has decided against it.

“I probably will do that one day, but for now I might just drop a day,” she said.

“I have a lot of friends who retire, do the travel or go caravanning then after a couple of years, it all stops.

“I have done all my travelling.

“I have a great job and get to meet lots of people and keep in contact with the world.”

As a patient advocate, Burrows said she gets to learn a lot about people, often also acting as a counsellor.

She began her nursing career in 1965 at Austin Hospital, Melbourne, finishing her training in 1968.

In those days, nurses washed and starched their uniforms which included aprons and veils and matrons ruled the roost.

She later moved to Crown Street Women’s Hospital, then on to Karitane in Killara and then the War Memorial Hospital in Waverley.

She then travelled and worked overseas for eight years working in Switzerland, Greece and England where she worked as an agency nurse looking after the rich and famous.

In 1983, she did a two-week stint at Gosford Private Hospital.

“I have been there ever since, and the past 25 years in the same job,” she said.

When not at work she house and dog sits, enjoys book club and is learning Italian.

“I like working, I like the personal contact with patients and every day is different,” Burrows said.

“You don’t know what you’re going to get.”

Denice Barnes