Pediatric nurses at Anne Arundel Medical Center should remember a couple things when they are working with Wadie M. "Brandi" Brandimore.

First, 73 isn't old. And second, she doesn't need any help doing her job. She's been at it for 50 years, and she knows what she's doing.

"There's no way she would let you accommodate her in any special way," said Nancy Achenback, patient care coordinator in pediatrics, who has worked with Mrs. Brandimore for more than 20 years. "She can work rings around all of us. You have to try to keep up with her."

"Some of the newer nurses might try to accommodate her, but she doesn't let them," said Catherine Copertino, nurse manager of pediatrics.

Mrs. Brandimore, of Arnold, was honored last week for her 50 years of service at the center's annual awards dinner for nurses. Ms. Copertino said she believes it is the first time a nurse has been honored for a half century of service.

"We felt 50 years of nursing service without breaks was something to be recognized," she said. "This is a tough job. It's something special to stick it out this long."

Mrs. Brandimore, grandmother who lives with her husband, LeRoy, has worked in pediatrics at Anne Arundel for 27 years. Before that, she worked as a nurse in the Navy and in private practice.

She has stayed so long, she said, because she loves her job and children.

"I just like the feeling that I've helped somebody at the end of the day," she said. "And I've just always loved working with babies."

Mrs. Brandimore's colleagues are impressed with her involvement in professional organizations and her efforts to stay current.

"She keeps up with everything new," said Ms. Copertino.

"We're constantly amazed at her commitment and enthusiasm," said Mary Anne Davies, a fellow pediatric nurse. "She's an excellent resource -- she's seen so much, so many changes. She's a wealth of experience."

Ms. Brandimore, who works the 3 p.m. to 11 p.m. shift three days a week, said she has no particular advice for staying healthy and active after many people have retired.

"I take naps," she offered. "I get up early, so by noon, I'm a little tired. I take a nap, then I'm ready to go again."

She has seen a lot of changes in medicine since she first got her nursing license in Kentucky in 1944, she said. Some ideas that fell out of favor years ago have become popular again.

"Well, back then, we delivered babies at home and minor surgery was done in the doctor's office," she explained. "Now, we're doing lots of surgery on an outpatient basis and some people are choosing to have babies at home."