Page 14 - Eclipse - Autumn/Winter 2023

New Clinical Support Welsh as Director of Veterinary Nursing and
Manager at the QMHA Hilary Orpet as Deputy, the future is bright
and exciting, and I look forward to working
with them on wider VN initiatives and
projects within the RVC.”

Veterinary Nursing career
progression in VN education

Over the past year, we’ve expanded our
In addition to the numerous RVC teaching team in the School of Veterinary
RVNs who had articles published in Nursing and recruited another Clinical
peer-reviewed journals and spoke at Educator. Our Clinical Educators are
congresses, such as BVNA, BSAVA, and RVNs who primarily work in our hospitals,
London Vet Show, Sarah Batt-Williams combining their clinical duties with formal
and Lyndsay Wade launched their teaching for our undergraduate and post-
podcast series, Vet Nurses Investigate. Last year, we bid a fond farewell to Sarah registration VN students.
In the podcast, Sarah and Lyndsay Bailey (née Helens), the QMHA’s Clinical This unique role offers career
interview vets and VNs involved in all Support Manager. Sarah had been part progression opportunity for our clinical
aspects of research, clinical audit, and of the VN team since 1987, and many VNs. It allows them to gain experience
knowledge development, sharing top tips alumni hold fond memories of working and further qualifications in teaching
and strategies to help other VNs engage with her in the QMHA, particularly during while ensuring that our students benefit
in their knowledge projects. her days as Head Theatre Nurse. We all
miss her; however, we have welcomed from their clinical currency and expertise.
As part of her drive to empower more VN alumna Betsy Malamah-Thomas At the beginning of this year, we also
VNs to participate in research, Sarah into this role. Betsy brings her valuable welcomed back VN educators Sarah
also founded the RVC’s internal business and leadership experience and Batt-Williams and Evie Yon from maternity
VN research and writing group, expertise from the corporate veterinary leave, and they have assumed new
in collaboration with the Lifelong, world to her new position. leadership roles as Course Director and
Independent Veterinary Education (LIVE) Betsy said of her new role: “I have been Co-Deputy Course Director, respectively,
team, with the aim of increasing the blown away by the talent and dedication of for the undergraduate VN courses.
involvement of the team in educational the nursing and clinical support teams at Following her stint as maternity cover,
and clinical research. the QMHA and look forward to supporting, we’re also delighted that Lauren Dee is
rvc.uk.com/vns-investigate-podcast developing and exploring new opportunities staying on with the teaching team, taking
together. With the appointment of Perdi on the role of Co-Deputy Course Director.

Launch of RVC VN Awards hospitals have been recognised, and JOINT RUNNER-UP:
and Summer BBQ we extend a heartfelt thank you and Abi Edis (BSAH)
congratulations to our award winners:
This summer, we introduced the new OUTSTANDING PATIENT CARE
RVC VN Awards, to recognise and RISING STAR AWARD FIRST PLACE: AWARD FIRST PLACE:
celebrate inspiring RVNs and student Manuela Gonzalez (Beaumont Lucie Wilkins (QMHA)
VNs at the RVC. These VNs have Sainsbury Animal Hospital) (BSAH) RUNNER-UP: Emily Few (QMHA)
been honoured for going above and RUNNER-UP: OUTSTANDING STUDENT SUPPORT
beyond to provide outstanding patient Lynette Cox (Equine Referral Hospital) (STUDENT-VOTED) FIRST PLACE:
care and leadership, or for enhancing Sam McGaw (QMHA)
LEADING LIGHT AWARD FIRST PLACE:
our students’ clinical experience. The Charlotte Russo (QMHA)
number of nominations received from RUNNER-UP: Sema Assi-Yamagata
staff and students overwhelmed us. JOINT RUNNER-UP: (BSAH)
Veterinary nurses from all three RVC Gina Parkes (QMHA)
The awards were presented at our new
VN summer BBQ, held in the Buttery
Bar on the Hawkshead Campus. We
were joined by VNs past and present,
including Eve Lloyd (pictured left),
who was a veterinary nurse at the
Beaumont in the 1960s. The rain stayed
away, and the spirit of celebration and
appreciation shone brightly upon our
award winners.

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