An 80-year-old nurse who has been caring for hospital patients in Boston for more than half a century says she has no plans of leaving the profession behind.

Iva Hills’ story has been shared by Lincolnshire Community and Hospitals NHS Group ahead of International Nurses Day.

Iva first trained to be a nurse after leaving school in Prague, completing her Nursing Diploma in 1963.

However, when she moved to the UK in 1970 it was not immediately clear as to whether her qualifications would apply in her new home. This was despite her finishing among the top of her year and extensive experience she had gained working on medical wards.

Iva Hills, who has helped hospital patients in Boston for 55 years.

placeholder image — Iva Hills, who has helped hospital patients in Boston for 55 years.

While waiting for a decision, Iva started working as a healthcare support worker at Boston General Hospital.

Once she knew her qualifications would not be recognised, an undeterred Iva chose to re-do her nurse training in Boston and also at Grantham and District Hospital.

After two years, she successfully passed all her exams; today, on every shift, she still wears the nursing badge she subsequently received.

Speaking of her committment to the proffesion, she said: “I am a positive person. I enjoy supporting colleagues and I feel it is a privilege to be able to care for others. I have been so lucky to work with amazing people over the years in lots of different areas. I have enjoyed every opportunity, and I am not ready to stop just yet.”

Progress on Boston's Pilgrim Hospital, taken in February 1969 from the fourth floor of what would become the maternity block. Iva came to the UK in 1970 and remembers seeing the hospital take shape.

Iva remembers her first visits to Pilgrim Hospital back in the 1970s.

She said: “I can remember there just being lots of mud and full of construction workers. We literally watched it grow out of the ground.”

Iva’s nursing career has seen her work on medical wards, surgical wards, gynaecological wards, in gastroenterology and vascular, and train in specialities like orthopaedics and ear, nose and throat.

She has been a ward sister and was also a matron for 10 years before she officially retired in 2010. However, even before her retirement Iva worked additional shifts – something she continues to do as a nurse in the Emergency Department at Pilgrim Hospital.

Iva said: “I just love to be around people, and I feel when I am working in the Emergency Department that I am surrounded by family. I am not matron or sister, I am just Iva, and I am here to support my colleagues and to care for our patients.”

One colleague Iva has supported over the years is associate director of nursing Jamie Hodgkins. They first met when Jamie was training to be a nurse and applied to be a health care support worker when he was not studying or on placements.

Jamie said: “Iva interviewed me in July 1999 and gave me my first job at Pilgrim Hospital. Our paths have often crossed over the years, and she has always been very supportive. She embodies compassion and is so caring. She naturally commands respect without trying. She is an advocate for our patients and embodies everything that a nurse should be.

“She is the nurse we all aspire to be and the person we would want to care for our loved ones. She truly is an inspiration and, to be honest, we all struggle to keep up with her pace and ability to multi-task.

“I think it is wonderful that we recognise everything that Iva has done and continues to do for colleagues and patients. What better day to do this than International Nurses Day! Thank you Iva for being a shining example and leading the way for so many generations of nurses.”