Barbara Tracy, RN, whose career in nursing began in the iron lung era, celebrates a half century as a registered nurse this year.

Tracy’s colleagues, friends and family members threw a surprise anniversary party for the Emergency Department nurse January 28, saluting her for her long career, including 27 years in the Marin General Hospital ED.

Colleagues praised her strong work ethic, her attention to detail and especially her dedication to the needs of the patient. Mark Kobe, RN, Chief of Nursing, called Tracy a “nurse’s nurse” and an “ultimate team player.”

Said Kobe, “For Barbara, the patient was first and foremost. It was all about the patient – she wrote the book on that.”

Chuck Prosper, MGH’s chief administrative officer, presented Tracy with a certificate of recognition from Rep. Lynn Woolsey and promised that certificates were on their way from Senators Dianne Feinstein and Barbara Boxer.

Sitting in the front row at the MGH Conference Center, decorated in a 1950s theme in recognition of her graduation from nursing school in June 1959, Tracy listened to salutes from a parade of co-workers and family members. Several brought her flowers and other gifts. About 75 people attended the reception.

When the testimonials were finished, Tracy, a resident of San Rafael, thanked those present, calling the recognition “pretty overwhelming.”

“I’m honored by your presence. This is a true family affair – doctors, nurses, paramedics, techs, nurses. Today has been a real trip down memory lane. It’s been an awesome privilege to be in nursing with you.”

Later, Tracy said about her tenure at MGH, “It’s been very enjoyable. I was able to meet with fascinating people and work with a wonderful group of people. I will work as long as I enjoy it and can do the job.” At present she works three days a week as an assistant nurse manager and charge nurse.

Health care, she said, has undergone “a huge change, from very simple and basic care to the influence of amazing technologies.”

At its core, however, “the basic care of the person has not changed. We’re still taking care of the person, but we’re doing it with new and amazing technologies. Part of our commitment is keeping current with these technologies.”

When she entered nursing, “Often we were keeping people in bed for 10 days. This isn’t always good – people do better in their own environment. They do better at home with their own families.”

Care providers have gotten better “at understanding what the patient's needs are, and helping the family take care of and be supportive of the patients.”

February 4, 2009