This London nurse is retiring after 60 years. She's 81.

When 81-year-old Sandra Dunning began nursing, men were not allowed into the profession. Neither were married women. Or any woman who had ever been married.

Things have changed.

"We didn't have DNA. We didn't do CPR. We didn't have computers. We didn't have a lot of the technology that we have today. It was a totally different world," said Dunning, who this week is wrapping up her final class with Fanshawe College.

Dunning graduated from St. Mary's Hospital School of Nursing in 1960, but within a few years moved to London to attend Western University to beef up her education.

She began teaching nursing students full-time at St. Joseph's Hospital in 1964.  

Dunning actually retired when she turned 65. "I had to retire because it was a government law and then I started working part-time teaching nursing again."

And so, since 2004, Dunning has worked two days a week with practical nursing students from Fanshawe at Parkwood Institute.

"I had these goals in mind that I would retire when I was 70, then I would retire when I was 75, and then my nursing career crept into it," she admitted. 

And that's how an 81-year-old nurse with 60 years experience is finally retiring.

These last weeks teaching have proven to be a bit more challenging. Dunning, like all teachers, has had to work remotely, and connect virtually with her students. Zoom meetings? No problem.

"I try to keep up. I think I'm a life-long learner so I try to keep up with them and it has helped me tremendously. I've learned a lot from my students. It's been one of the greatest things for me to work with these young people," Dunning said.

Dunning acknowledges it's a strange time to be leaving the field, as frontline workers continue to battle the COVID-19 pandemic. 

"I admire the frontline workers that are having to deal with this. I hope they have the strength to continue on. They're protecting us in the most incredible way."

Advice for next generation of nurses

Dunning said nursing has always been about caring for her. "And trying to listen to the patient, hear their story, hear their concerns and try to make them feel safe." 

So her advice to the next generation is to show patients that you care. "And also to increase their body of knowledge so that they're able to give the best possible care that they can."

Dunning figures she'll volunteer with her new-found freedom, but said she'll miss her students.

"I'm sure I'll figure out something to do. I will certainly do some volunteer work but I am sad. It's been a wonderful, wonderful 60 years," she said.

"I can't believe it's 60 years, to be honest."