Scunthorpe heart nurse retires after 40 years

Cardiac specialist nurse Jane Smith has spent her whole career working at Scunthorpe hospital, and for the last 20 years has cared for patients who have had a heart attack or heart surgery.

She wore her uniform for the last time on Friday.

Jane now intends to spend time with her family, gardening, travelling and helping her daughter set up a new business.

Her passion for nursing was sparked when she was young thanks to a children’s book about a nurse, and after her mother spent time in hospital.

The hospital has not only been a workplace for her but it also brought her love when she met her husband-to-be Brian who was working there as a porter. Staff have also cared for her and her family over the years, including delivering her two children.

Jane took time out to have her children and after returning from maternity leave she took up a position on the coronary care unit. A move which would see her dedicate the next 20+ years to looking after patients with heart conditions.

She worked her way up to deputy ward manager before moving into cardiology research, and then into the role of a cardiac specialist nurse.

Her highlights have included helping to establish a new coronary care unit, seeing improved treatments for cardiology patients as well helping to develop and expand the cardiac specialist service. She said: “I also think I have had my career at the best of times. I trained at a time when the old ideals merged with modern practice so I got the best of both worlds.”

However, for Jane her proudest memories have always been about her patients. She said: “A patient once said to me the doctors fix your bodies but it is the nurses who help us live again after an acute cardiac event. That really resonated with me and is something I have always tried to do. I am proud to think I play a part in putting people’s lives back together.”