I love being a nurse because…
“I love to see patients come in, get well and go home, knowing that the care I’ve given has helped to make that change. My whole life has been about nursing and providing patient care.”
In honour of our International Nurses Day celebrations, we spoke to Linda Wildberg from University Hospitals Tees who recently marked 54 years working for the NHS.
Linda’s passion for nursing started at the age of 16, when she and a group of school friends gave up their time on a weekend to volunteer on the elderly card ward at Hartlepool General, which used to be a Florence Nightingale ward.
However, the Florence Nightingale similarities don’t end there, Linda’s mum also shares a birthday with Florence too (12 May).
Destined to be a nurse Linda became a cadet in 1972, where everyone was admitted through a carbon copy book with pen and paper and where Linda gained invaluable experience working in a variety of different departments.
However, it was the trauma and orthopaedics department that stole Linda’s heart, following a very inspirational talk from her mentor, sister Brown.
Linda said: “Sister Brown rang me as I was waiting for my exam results and effectively told me that I would come to work with her as a staff nurse at ward 7 at St Hilda’s and that is how I ended up in working in orthopaedics.
“Orthopaedics is everything, the variety, rather than one speciality, keeps things interesting.”
After 54 years, Linda who has been retiring since the age of 55, is still working within the trauma and orthopaedics department as a clinical quality data management lead for collaborative care.
Career highlights
Here is a look back at Linda’s career highlights:
- 1 January 1973: started her first shift as a cadet
- 1974 to 1977: completed her state registered nurse (SRN) training
- 1977: secured her first staff nurse role working within female elective orthopaedics at St Hilda’s Hospital
- 1977 – 1981: worked as an orthopaedic clinical educator alongside her staff nurse role
- 1981: promoted to junior ward sister
- 1982 to 1983: completed her orthopaedic specialist certificate at Sunderland General Hospital
- 1984: transferred to Hartlepool General when St Hildas’s Hospital closed
- 1986 to 2020: promoted to a ward matron when Sister Brown retired
- 2004: started surgical site surveillance for the UK Health Security Agency (previously Public Health) alongside her ward matron role
- 2018: won a Shining Star award on the 70th anniversary of the NHS.
Linda reflects on a rewarding career
Reflecting on her career, Linda said: “My whole career has been a highlight and I am so proud of what I’ve achieved. It has been such a pleasure to see the development of my colleagues, many of whom have now advanced into practitioner and consultant roles.
“I could go on forever talking about what I love about being a nurse but it’s not as one person that you can achieve it’s the team you work with.”
Linda’s nursing career is truly inspirational and she has some advice for those thinking of a career in nursing:
“Always remember to treat your patients like your family and you can’t go wrong. The patient is always first and foremost.