They openly and enthusiastically praised a mentor who had helped them and others work towards becoming exemplary nurses.

Dubbo Hospital clinical nurse educator Renee Chandler spoke on behalf of her assembled colleagues when declaring that 67-year-old Mrs McCarthy "trained future leaders".

"Mary set a high standard of nursing care and ..instilled it in her staff," Ms Chandler said. "She did it with grace and style."

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Earlier, in the corridors of the hospital, Mrs McCarthy was being stopped by nurses wanting to say thanks.

"They have been telling me the influence I have had on their careers and that's really heartwarming and just makes all the hard work of the last 30-plus years worthwhile," she said.

Mrs McCarthy came to Dubbo with her late husband and their children a year before taking up a position at Dubbo Hospital.

For five years she was nurse unit manager (NUM) of A ward followed by 24 years as NUM of S ward.

She also accepted short secondments as acting general manager to nine hospitals from Gilgranda through to Goodooga, and served as acting deputy director of nursing and acting director of nursing at Dubbo Hospital.

"I can say to younger people and other managers if someone gives you an opportunity to do a secondment do it," Mrs McCarthy said.

"You may not think you can do it but someone has faith in you and I've learned so much from doing it and met so many great people."

In the past several years Mrs McCarthy has worked with the hospital's redevelopment team as its fixtures, furniture and equipment project officer.

In consultation with clinicians she fitted out the surgical ward in the Talbragar Building.

Before her final day of work on Thursday, Mrs McCarthy had also "done the new renal unit and most of the stuff needed for the Macquarie Building", the three-storey building under construction at the hospital.

At a farewell lunch at "The Village", a cluster of portable offices used by contractors and hospital redevelopment staff, Mrs McCarthy said she had no regrets about a career which began in Tasmania 50 years ago.

"The world is your oyster when you go nursing," she said before outlining the many and varied jobs performed by nurses in hospitals, the community and academia.

She has "mixed feelings" about retiring despite looking forward to being able to see more of her children and grandchildren in Victoria.

Dubbo Hospital general manager Debbie Bickerton understands why her colleague might be conflicted.

"There's a saying 'once a nurse always a nurse' which makes you think of Mary," she said.