Florence Rigney, oldest working registered nurse, celebrates 90th birthday

Florence Rigney, the country's oldest working registered nurse, turned 90... — Florence Rigney, the country's oldest working registered nurse, turned 90 on Friday, May 8, 2015, and received a surprise celebration from her co-workers. Rigney, who began her career in 1946, works at Tacoma General Hospital in Washington state two days a week setting up operating rooms, according to the Huffington Post. Credit: YouTube / Martie Schultz

By ELISSA SALAMYelissa.salamy@newsday.comMay 12, 2015

The oldest working registered nurse in the U.S. turned 90 last Friday.

Florence "Seesee" Rigney started working as a student nurse at the Tacoma General School of Nursing in 1946. Nearly 70 years later, Rigney works at Tacoma General Hospital in Washington state two days a week setting up operating rooms, according to the Huffington Post.

"I love nursing," Rigney told the Huffington Post in 2013. "Since I was a little girl, it was something that I always wanted to do."

On her birthday on May 8, colleagues surprised Rigney with balloons, a pink sash and a tiara that said "Happy Birthday" in pink and purple rhinestones.

Washington Gov. Jay Inslee wrote a letter to Rigney in celebration of her special day.

"Seesee has witnessed incredible advances in technology and has helped care for countless patients," Inslee said. "I applaud Seesee for her selflessness and longstanding commitment to excellence."

Rigney hugged and thanked her colleagues for the surprise celebration.

"When I was laying in bed this morning after the alarm went off, I thought, oh my god, 90," Rigney said amid the laughter of her co-workers. "You're all wonderful. I know I'm a pain in the you-know-what. Thank you all."