Matron Nicohilda Bouwer bade farewell to her colleagues after nursing for 47 years, 25 years of which served as nursing manager at Hermanus Hospital.
The experienced health-care worker, who started her nursing career in 1976, completed her last day of work in 31 October and now looks forward to exploring new hobbies during her retirement.
According to Matron Bouwer, she became a nurse to live out her passion of taking care of and serving others. After qualifying as a professional nurse and midwife, she worked in various departments, such as general, theatre, outpatients, intensive care and emergency care. Bouwer discovered her love for emergency care and decided to do a course in traumatology. She later completed her degree in this field through Unisa.
During her career Bouwer worked in the emergency-care departments at Tygerberg Hospital as matron in Keimoes Hospital in the Northern Cape and as a unit matron at Ferncrest Hospital in Rustenburg.
In May 1996 she started working at Hermanus Hospital as a senior professional nurse in emergency care before being appointed as acting nurse manager for two years. In January 2000 she was permanently appointed as nurse manager at Hermanus Hospital.
“It was a journey I will never forget and will always treasure,” said Bouwer. “One day I will write a book about my nursing career. Firstly, I want to thank the dear Lord that he called me to serve and live out my passion and for giving me the strength and health to fulfil it. I’ve met many people and dear colleagues and made a lot of friends over the years.
“I secondly want to thank my dear husband, Danie, who has always been my soundboard and supported me in my career and many times had to come second. I also wish to thank the community for always being supportive to the hospital and me, it has been an honour serving you!”
Bouwer admitted that being a nursing manager was not always easy, because there was never a dull moment and it kept her on her knees, teaching her to stay humble.
She added: “I leave Hermanus Hospital with sadness in my heart, but I know that the institution will just go from strength to strength. My fondest memory of Hermanus Hospital will always be that we were a unique family and we could stand together in every situation.”
Bouwer now plans to rest, travel and do lots of gardening. She also looks forward to taking up new hobbies which she never had time for.
Dr Francois Fourie, Overstrand Medical Manager, thanked Bouwer for more than 27 years of service to the Hermanus Hospital and the Department of Health of Wellness, and wished her well with the new chapter in her life.
He added: “It was such a privilege to work with a manager of the calibre of Matron Bouwer. She was the cornerstone of the Hermanus Provincial Hospital, on which we built our high-quality services.
“She was always excellence driven and an inspiration to everyone she worked with. She will be sorely missed, but her legacy will live on in Hermanus Hospital.”
Bouwer’s final advice to the nursing staff of Hermanus Hospital is to stay humble, take care of themselves and to always render a quality service.