Nurse hangs up uniform after five decades

The British-trained nurse, who emigrated to Australia in 2004, is spry and fit at 73, with the energy levels of women half her age, and Sunday will be the last time she celebrates International Nurses Day as a registered nurse.

Next month, after 56 years caring for the sick, she will let her registration expire - a necessary step to make sure she isn't tempted to go back to work.

Mrs Cumming attempted to retire in 2009 after having a heart attack at work. But, within a few months, she was bored and started working full-time in private practice.

''I've not exactly hidden my age, but I haven't admitted to it either,'' Mrs Cumming said.

''Nursing has totally absorbed me for years … I've got a real passion for my job. I'm a carer. It gives me a buzz.''

When she first started working, blood sugar tests were not just a simple prick test and checking for blood in urine involved a Bunsen burner.

''To test sugar years ago we had a test tube - put in five drops of urine, 10 drops of water and then drop a tablet in, let it froth up and then there would be a gradient of colours going from blue to dark orange and that's how you would measure the percentage of sugar,'' she said. ''For protein, we would boil the urine.''

The nurse practitioner did further study in asthma care and diabetes at a time when deaths from asthma were still common and says medical and technological advancements have revolutionised the profession for the better.

''But I think the hands on nursing care years ago was a lot better,'' she said. ''Every patient was bathed and their oral hygiene was attended to. Hair and make-up was put on, if necessary. I would get the student nurses to wash their hair and that sort of thing doesn't happen in the hospitals these days.''

Sue Evans has worked with the dedicated nurse in different roles for almost a decade. She said Canberra was losing one of its most professional nurse practitioners.

''Her care and love for the patients is outstanding,'' she said.

Mrs Cumming said winning the award for nurse of the year when she was 21 and organising a nurse practitioner conference with 6000 delegates were highlights.

''I'm going to find it very hard to adjust to retirement,'' she said.