b'EMPOWERED TO INSPIRE, ACHIEVE AND LEAD TOGETHEREMPOWERED TO INSPIRE, ACHIEVE AND LEAD TOGETHEREMPOWERED TO INSPIRE, ACHIEVE AND LEAD TOGETHEREMPOWERED TO INSPIRE, VETERINARY WOMAN CHAMPIONS FOR CHANGEACHIEVE & LEAD TOGETHERPerdi Welsh DIRECTOR OF VETERINARY NURSING AT THE RVC Perdi Welsh is the recently-appointed Director of Veterinary Nursing at the RVC and has spent her career promoting veterinary nurses and working to gain them the recognition they deserve. While developing post-registration Certificates and Diplomas for veterinary nurses she has consistently sought to be inclusive and offer innovative assessments to allow mature students to juggle their work, study and family lives. In her new role, shes already introduced awards to recognise the outstanding work of RVNs in the RVCs hospitals. Throughout her career, shes remained passionate about helping her fellow nurses become the best they can be; her colleague, Hilary Orpet, nominated her as a champion for change, describing her as an inspiration to the veterinary nursing community. Please summarise how you are working towards acquire the ability to access the most current literature and change in the veterinary professions and why you make informed, evidence-based decisions that benefit both S U M M A R Y feel this is important: their practice and patients. By also engaging in the practical My current focus on effecting change lies in teaching clinicalaspects of designing, executing, and documenting their clinicalI qualified from the Royal Veterinarygovernance to our post-registration Certificate in Advancedaudits, they not only hone their skills in this activity, but also Colleges Beaumont Sainsbury AnimalsVeterinary Nursing (CertAVN) students.gain valuable experience in initiating transformative changes Hospital in 1991. within their own clinical practices.After qualifying I moved to the RVCsThe incorporation of clinical governance into the RCVS Codes Queen Mother Hospital, studying for myof Professional Conduct underscored its importance inThe broader transferable skills they acquire through these Diploma in Advanced Veterinary Nursingimproving patient care and client services. Yet, many of ourprocesses are invaluable throughout their careers, enabling (Surgery). CertAVN learners tell us they lack confidence and skills inthem to serve as exemplars and advocates who can go I n 1994 I was appointed as nursing tutorinitiating governance activities, especially activities such ason to inspire other RVNs to participate in a wide range of for the first VN school at the RVC, gainingconducting clinical audits or producing knowledge summaries. professional development activities.my Certificate in Education in 1996.Our course activities are designed with the aim of empoweringHow do you feel this is making a difference? I then moved to Northern Ireland, helpingstudents to embrace new challenges, foster confidence andBy the end of their studies, our CertAVN students tell us to set up a small animal practice with mydevelop leadership skills essential for a modern RVN. Weabout the interventions theyve introduced into their clinical husband. At this time, I also establishedspecifically concentrate on enhancing their knowledge andpractices and the positive impact these interventions are and ran the first block-release VN coursepractical application of clinical governance to equip themhaving on their patient care and running of the practice. They in Northern Ireland.with the competencies needed for independent qualitysay their knowledge and understanding of the specialismIn 2001, we returned to England, andimprovement endeavours, including leadership in thetheyve studied has increased, but importantly for me, they say I continued to work as a lecturer inplanning, execution, and communication of clinical audits andhow much their confidence in their abilities and leadership veterinary nursing and Senior Examinerthe creation of knowledge summaries. skills has grown. They tell us they feel empowered, more for the RCVS VN examinations.By writing their own knowledge summaries, our RVN studentsconfident, and capable. 36www.veterinarywoman.co.uk'