Improve International has awarded Registered Veterinary Nurse (RVN) Claire Thomas from Dick White Referrals the Louise O’Dwyer Scholarship for 2022.
The scholarship will enable Claire Thomas to study on its Emergency and Critical Care training programme and upon completion will be awarded a Nurse Certificate (NCert) by the International School of Veterinary Postgraduate Studies (ISVPS).
Claire Thomas has spent over twenty years in general practice and last year made the decision to progress her career and successfully applied to be an EEC vet nurse. Described as a “terrifying step”, Claire’s steep learning curve reinforced her passion to follow her aspirations.
Louise O’Dwyer was a highly respected and awarded ECC veterinary nurse, who was passionate about ECC and an inspiration to her colleagues. She lectured not only on Improve International’s ISVPS NCert ECC training programme but also on its other nursing courses and at congresses around the world. She died in 2019.
Claire Thomas said: “I am truly honoured and excited to have been chosen for the Louise O’Dwyer Legacy Scholarship for 2022. Thank you to Louise’s family and Improve International for this amazing opportunity. Louise was an inspirational nurse who always promoted autonomy within the profession and encouraged nurses to follow their own interests in a specialist field. I hope to be able to continue Louise’s legacy by inspiring other nurses to follow their own aspirations at any stage of their career.
“I hope to use this scholarship to further my knowledge and develop practical skills to enhance my role as an ECC nurse and provide the best clinical care to critically ill patients.”
Dr Charlotte French, vet and Head of Business Development UKI & USA at Improve International, said: “We are delighted to award the Louise O’Dwyer Scholarship to Claire Thomas and excited to see her bring her passion and ambition to our ISVPS NCert Emergency and Critical Care training programme.
“We believe she will excel in this discipline and inspire other vet nurses to advance their own skills and confidence in this vital area of veterinary medicine. Many congratulations.”
To find out more about Improve International’s training programmes for vet nurses, visit their website.
