Jimmy Cooper, who will be turning 80 in November, continues to work as a nurse in the intensive care unit at the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast. Despite a brief retirement at the age of 69, he returned to nursing after just four months because he found himself bored. Jimmy finds great satisfaction in his job and has no plans to give it up anytime soon.

Jimmy’s nursing career was shaped by a chance meeting with a matron and her deputy in a cottage hospital near Brighton in the 1970s. Intrigued by their conversation, he left his contact details and was later signed up for a training course. However, during his training, he faced restrictions such as not being allowed to listen to lectures about female patients and being unable to work on a female ward. It took two years before he saw his first female patient.

Throughout his career, Jimmy has cared for a wide range of patients, including Conservative Party politicians injured in the Brighton bombing in 1984. As the manager of the unit at the time, he received a call about the bombing and initially thought it was a joke. However, he soon realized the seriousness of the situation and took care of the injured politicians.

Jimmy has been working on the intensive care unit ward at the Royal Victoria Hospital for almost 20 years. His colleagues admire his patience and describe him as a fantastic teacher. They enjoy spending tea breaks with him and affectionately call him “Granda.” Dr. Brian McCloskey, a consultant on the ward, praises Jimmy for his caring and compassionate nature, as well as his extensive knowledge and experience.

Despite his five decades of experience in the health service, Jimmy has no plans to retire. He hopes to extend his contract for at least another three years. He believes that keeping up with younger members of staff helps him stay fit and young. Jimmy’s dedication to nursing is truly inspiring and shows that age is not a barrier to pursuing a fulfilling career in healthcare.

Original news source: Belfast Royal Victoria Hospital: I’m nearly 80 and still nursing (BBC)

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Group or Classroom Activities

Warm-up Activities:

– News Summary
Instructions: Students will be divided into pairs. Each pair will take turns summarizing the article in just five sentences, focusing on the key points about Jimmy Cooper’s nursing career, the challenges he faced, and his current status in the workplace. After summarizing, they will discuss with their partner what they found most inspiring about Jimmy’s story.

– Opinion Poll
Instructions: The teacher will create a list of statements about age and career such as “Age is just a number in the workplace,” or “There should be a mandatory retirement age.” Students will stand in a line according to how much they agree or disagree with each statement, creating an opinion spectrum. Afterward, students will share their reasons for their positions and relate them to Jimmy Cooper’s career as an example.

– Sketch It
Instructions: In groups, students will be asked to create a simple comic strip or storyboard that illustrates Jimmy Cooper’s journey from his encounter with the matron and her deputy to his current position at the Royal Victoria Hospital. They should include key moments mentioned in the article. Each group will then present their comic strip to the class and explain the significance of the scenes they chose.

– Headline Creation
Instructions: Students will work individually to create an attention-grabbing newspaper headline that captures the essence of Jimmy Cooper’s story. They should consider what makes his story newsworthy and what aspect they find most compelling. Students will then share their headlines with the class and vote on which one they think would be most likely to draw readers into reading the article.

– Future Predictions
Instructions: Students will write a short paragraph predicting what the next chapter of Jimmy Cooper’s life might look like, based on the information from the article. They can imagine what he might do after finally retiring, any honors or recognition he might receive, or how his legacy might impact the nursing profession. After writing, students will share their predictions with a partner and discuss the likelihood of these predictions coming true.

Comprehension Questions:

1. How old is Jimmy Cooper and where does he work?
2. How long did Jimmy’s retirement last before he returned to nursing?
3. Where did Jimmy’s career in nursing begin and what event led to it?
4. What restrictions did Jimmy face during his nursing training?
5. How many years has Jimmy been working in the intensive care unit at the Royal Victoria Hospital?
6. What significant event did Jimmy respond to as the manager of a unit in 1984?
7. How do Jimmy’s colleagues describe him and what nickname do they use for him?
8. What are Jimmy’s future plans regarding his nursing career?
Go to answers ⇩

Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

(1)______ Cooper, who will be turning 80 in November, continues to work as a nurse in the intensive care unit at the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast. Despite a brief retirement at the age of 69, he returned to nursing after just four months because he found himself bored. Jimmy finds great satisfaction in his job and has no (2)______ to give it up anytime soon.

Jimmy’s nursing career was shaped by a chance (3)______ with a matron and her deputy in a cottage (4)______ near Brighton in the 1970s. Intrigued by their conversation, he left his contact details and was later signed up for a (5)______ course. However, during his training, he faced (6)______ such as not being allowed to listen to lectures about female patients and being unable to work on a female ward. It took two years before he saw his first female patient.

Throughout his (7)______, Jimmy has (8)______ for a wide range of patients, including Conservative Party politicians injured in the Brighton bombing in 1984. As the manager of the unit at the time, he received a call about the bombing and initially thought it was a joke. However, he soon (9)______ the (10)______ of the situation and took care of the injured politicians.

Jimmy has been working on the intensive care unit ward at the Royal Victoria Hospital for almost 20 years. His colleagues admire his patience and describe him as a fantastic (11)______. They enjoy (12)______ tea breaks with him and affectionately call him “Granda.” Dr. Brian McCloskey, a consultant on the ward, praises Jimmy for his caring and compassionate nature, as well as his extensive knowledge and experience.

Despite his five decades of experience in the (13)______ service, Jimmy has no plans to (14)______. He hopes to extend his contract for at least another three years. He (15)______ that keeping up with younger members of (16)______ helps him stay fit and young. Jimmy’s dedication to nursing is truly inspiring and shows that age is not a barrier to pursuing a fulfilling career in healthcare.
Go to answers ⇩

Discussion Questions:

Students can ask a partner these questions, or discuss them as a group.

1. What is your opinion on people working in high-stress jobs like nursing past the traditional retirement age?
2. How would you feel if a family member was being cared for by an 80-year-old nurse?
3. Do you think there should be an age limit for healthcare workers? Why or why not?
4. What challenges do you think someone like Jimmy might face while working in an intensive care unit at his age?
5. How do you think the nursing profession has changed since the 1970s?
6. Do you believe that older employees can be as effective as their younger counterparts in a fast-paced environment? Why or why not?
7. Have you ever had a job that you loved so much you couldn’t imagine retiring from it? Can you share your experience?
8. What are the benefits of having a mix of young and old staff members in a workplace?
9. Do you think returning to work after retirement can contribute to a person’s longevity and quality of life?
10. How important do you think it is for older professionals to mentor younger colleagues?
11. What qualities do you think make someone a “fantastic teacher” in a professional setting?
12. Do you like the idea of nicknames in the workplace, such as “Granda”? Why or why not?
13. Can you share an experience where you learned something valuable from someone significantly older or younger than you?
14. Do you think healthcare has become more inclusive and less restrictive since Jimmy began his nursing career?
15. What do you think motivates someone like Jimmy to keep working well into their late 70s and possibly 80s?

Individual Activities

Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. nurse
2. retirement
3. boredom
4. satisfaction
5. career
6. restrictions
7. patients
8. dedication

Meanings:
(a) Limitations or rules that prevent certain actions
(b) A person who provides medical care to others
(c) The act of leaving one’s job permanently
(d) The commitment and loyalty to a particular task or goal
(e) The feeling of being uninterested or unoccupied
(f) A person’s occupation or profession
(g) Individuals who receive medical treatment
(h) The feeling of contentment or fulfillment
Go to answers ⇩

Multiple Choice Questions:

1. How old will Jimmy Cooper be in November?
(a) 80
(b) 69
(c) 70
(d) 79

2. Where does Jimmy Cooper work as a nurse?
(a) Brighton Cottage Hospital
(b) Royal Victoria Hospital in London
(c) Royal Victoria Hospital in Berlin
(d) Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast

3. Why did Jimmy return to nursing after a brief retirement?
(a) He missed his colleagues
(b) He found himself bored
(c) He needed the money
(d) He wanted to help people

4. How did Jimmy’s nursing career begin?
(a) He saw an advertisement for a nursing course
(b) He was inspired by a family member who was a nurse
(c) He had a chance meeting with a matron and her deputy
(d) He randomly decided to become a nurse

5. What restrictions did Jimmy face during his nursing training?
(a) He was not allowed to work on a female ward
(b) He was not allowed to listen to lectures about female patients
(c) He was not allowed to have contact with female patients
(d) All of the above

6. Who did Jimmy care for after the Brighton bombing in 1984?
(a) Royal Victoria Hospital staff
(b) Patients with minor injuries
(c) None of the above
(d) Conservative Party politicians

7. How long has Jimmy been working on the intensive care unit ward at the Royal Victoria Hospital?
(a) 10 years
(b) 5 years
(c) Almost 20 years
(d) 30 years

8. How does Jimmy’s colleagues describe him?
(a) A fantastic teacher
(b) Granda
(c) Patient
(d) All of the above

Go to answers ⇩

True or False Questions:

1. Jimmy has been working on the intensive care unit ward at the Royal Victoria Hospital for almost 20 years.
2. Jimmy has never cared for Conservative Party politicians injured in the Brighton bombing in 1984.
3. Jimmy retired briefly at the age of 69 and did not return to nursing after four months.
4. Jimmy has no plans to retire and hopes to extend his contract for at least another three years.
5. Jimmy works as a nurse in the intensive care unit at the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast.
6. During his nursing training, Jimmy faced no restrictions such as not being allowed to listen to lectures about female patients and being able to work on a female ward.
7. Jimmy’s nursing career began after a planned meeting with a matron and her deputy in the 1970s.
8. Jimmy Cooper is turning 80 in November.
Go to answers ⇩

Write a Summary:

Write a summary of this news article in two sentences.

Writing Questions:

Answer the following questions. Write as much as you can for each answer.

1. What motivated Jimmy Cooper to return to nursing after his brief retirement?
2. How did Jimmy Cooper begin his nursing career in the 1970s?
3. Can you describe an extraordinary event that Jimmy Cooper was involved in during his nursing career?
4. How do Jimmy Cooper’s colleagues at the Royal Victoria Hospital view him?
5. What are Jimmy Cooper’s future plans regarding his nursing career?

Answers

Comprehension Question Answers:

1. How old is Jimmy Cooper and where does he work?
Jimmy Cooper is 79, turning 80 in November, and he works in the intensive care unit at the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast.

2. How long did Jimmy’s retirement last before he returned to nursing?
Jimmy’s retirement lasted just four months before he returned to nursing.

3. Where did Jimmy’s career in nursing begin and what event led to it?
Jimmy’s career in nursing began at a cottage hospital near Brighton in the 1970s, after a chance meeting with a matron and her deputy.

4. What restrictions did Jimmy face during his nursing training?
During his training, he was not allowed to listen to lectures about female patients or work on a female ward, and it took two years before he saw his first female patient.

5. How many years has Jimmy been working in the intensive care unit at the Royal Victoria Hospital?
Jimmy has been working in the intensive care unit at the Royal Victoria Hospital for almost 20 years.

6. What significant event did Jimmy respond to as the manager of a unit in 1984?
As the manager of a unit in 1984, Jimmy responded to the Brighton bombing, where Conservative Party politicians were injured.

7. How do Jimmy’s colleagues describe him and what nickname do they use for him?
Jimmy’s colleagues describe him as patient, a fantastic teacher, caring, compassionate, knowledgeable, and experienced. They affectionately call him “Granda.”

8. What are Jimmy’s future plans regarding his nursing career?
Jimmy has no plans to retire and hopes to extend his contract for at least another three years, believing that keeping up with younger staff helps him stay fit and young.
Go back to questions ⇧

Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) Jimmy
(2) plans
(3) meeting
(4) hospital
(5) training
(6) restrictions
(7) career
(8) cared
(9) realized
(10) seriousness
(11) teacher
(12) spending
(13) health
(14) retire
(15) believes
(16) staff
Go back to questions ⇧

Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. nurse
Answer: (b) A person who provides medical care to others

2. retirement
Answer: (c) The act of leaving one’s job permanently

3. boredom
Answer: (e) The feeling of being uninterested or unoccupied

4. satisfaction
Answer: (h) The feeling of contentment or fulfillment

5. career
Answer: (f) A person’s occupation or profession

6. restrictions
Answer: (a) Limitations or rules that prevent certain actions

7. patients
Answer: (g) Individuals who receive medical treatment

8. dedication
Answer: (d) The commitment and loyalty to a particular task or goal
Go back to questions ⇧

Multiple Choice Answers:

1. How old will Jimmy Cooper be in November?
Answer: (a) 80

2. Where does Jimmy Cooper work as a nurse?
Answer: (d) Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast

3. Why did Jimmy return to nursing after a brief retirement?
Answer: (b) He found himself bored

4. How did Jimmy’s nursing career begin?
Answer: (c) He had a chance meeting with a matron and her deputy

5. What restrictions did Jimmy face during his nursing training?
Answer: (b) He was not allowed to listen to lectures about female patients

6. Who did Jimmy care for after the Brighton bombing in 1984?
Answer: (d) Conservative Party politicians

7. How long has Jimmy been working on the intensive care unit ward at the Royal Victoria Hospital?
Answer: (c) Almost 20 years

8. How does Jimmy’s colleagues describe him?
Answer: (a) A fantastic teacher
Go back to questions ⇧

True or False Answers:

1. Jimmy has been working on the intensive care unit ward at the Royal Victoria Hospital for almost 20 years. (Answer: True)
2. Jimmy has never cared for Conservative Party politicians injured in the Brighton bombing in 1984. (Answer: False)
3. Jimmy retired briefly at the age of 69 and did not return to nursing after four months. (Answer: False)
4. Jimmy has no plans to retire and hopes to extend his contract for at least another three years. (Answer: True)
5. Jimmy works as a nurse in the intensive care unit at the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast. (Answer: True)
6. During his nursing training, Jimmy faced no restrictions such as not being allowed to listen to lectures about female patients and being able to work on a female ward. (Answer: False)
7. Jimmy’s nursing career began after a planned meeting with a matron and her deputy in the 1970s. (Answer: False)
8. Jimmy Cooper is turning 80 in November. (Answer: True)
Go back to questions ⇧