AFTER more than half a century in nursing, Bangor woman Margaret McCracken is still doing the job she loves, with retirement nowhere in sight.
The South Eastern Trust fracture clinic nurse is celebrating an extraordinary 52 years in the profession, including the past 27 years at the Ulster Hospital, where she remains a valued member of the fracture clinic team.
Margaret began her nursing career in 1974 at the Royal Victoria Hospital, gaining frontline experience during the Troubles before moving into senior leadership roles within the voluntary sector, including directorships with Mencap.
Despite her success away from frontline healthcare, she found herself drawn back to nursing.
Margaret explained: “I missed the clinical side of nursing and I had started bank shifts at the Ulster Hospital. One of the permanent staff was going off on holidays and I was asked to cover for two weeks, 27 years later, I am still here.”
Margaret said it is the people and the teamwork that have made her career at the Ulster Hospital so rewarding.
“I just love the department and the whole set-up,” she said. “I have made so many friends and this is a great place to work and we all work together as a team. The doctors, physiotherapists and nursing staff, everyone works together and we are friends as well as colleagues.”
Nursing has also become a family tradition, with both Margaret’s daughter and son pursuing careers within the South Eastern Trust.
As thousands of students prepare to receive their exam results, Margaret encouraged anyone considering a career in nursing to follow their ambitions.
Margaret added, “It is great that nurses now qualify with a degree. It was not like that when I trained. I am a great believer in learning the basics first and always follow a career path and go as far as you think you are capable of. You have to care about people, enjoy what you do, be able to make decisions and work as part of a Team.”
Margaret will celebrate her 70th birthday in November, but says she has no plans to retire.
“I cannot see me going anytime soon unless they ask me to.
“I love working here in the fracture clinic and I look forward to caring for our patients every day.”
