A longtime nurse has decided to retire after 52 years of service in the New Orleans area.
Acquelyn Donsereaux began her career at Touro Infirmary before making the transition to teaching.
Over the course of more than half of a century, Donsereaux went on to train the next generation of nurses at Sidney Collier, the Dryades YMCA and most recently, Delgado Community College.
A celebration was held in her honor Tuesday at Delgado’s campus in Kenner.
“I told so many friends I was retiring but never knowing who all could make it,” Donsereaux said. “(I’m) just glad beaucoup people made it.”
Donsereaux was also surprised with a special proclamation from New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell, thanking her for her commitment to the community.
“We are supposed to live our life with purpose, and I can’t think of (anything) that would give me this kind of reward,” Donsereaux said. “Fifty-two years of nursing and I swear I wouldn’t take nothing for it.”
It’s a bittersweet moment that Donsereaux said she is ready for.
When sister station WDSU asked her what she’ll do next, she joked about visiting family in Virginia, but only for a little while.
“She thinks I’m (going to) try to stay but I got news for her, I’m going somewhere else. Turks and Caicos. Anybody got anywhere they want me to be? Cause I can be there. I don’t have nowhere to go, no clocks,” she said.
WDSU asked Donsereaux what advice she would give to those future nurses, she said always treat people better than they deserve.