Wigan VN wins Golden Jubilee in honour of pioneering work

A Wigan-based veterinary nurse has been named as the fifth recipient of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) Golden Jubilee Award – an honour bestowed on one veterinary nurse each year in honour of exceptional achievement.

This year’s winner is Louise O’Dwyer (pictured right), the first to receive the Award since it was relaunched in 2015 to make it more leadership-focused and exclusive to veterinary nurses. The Award was originally launched in 2011 to mark the 50th anniversary of our first veterinary nursing training scheme.

Liz Cox, Chair of VN Council, was on the selection panel, and says: “The Golden Jubilee is awarded to members of our profession that actively demonstrate outstanding leadership, commitment to veterinary nursing and play an ambassadorial role.

"Speaking on both national and international stages Louise O'Dwyer has widely influenced nursing practice in particular with relation to infection control and patient care. She is a true pioneer for veterinary nursing holding, and her passion for pushing our profession forward clinically makes her a most deserving winner of the award.”

Miss O’Dwyer received the award in recognition of her pioneering role in veterinary nursing, acting as the first veterinary nurse Clinical Director within the CVS Group and the first UK veterinary nurse to be voted on to the US-based Academy of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care Technicians’ Board.

She has also lectured around the world and volunteered for several years at the Bella Moss Foundation, worked on a variety of British Small Animal Veterinary Association (BSAVA) Committees, contributed to over 35 journal and magazine articles in the UK, USA and Canada, written three nursing textbooks, and contributed chapters to numerous textbooks in the UK and US.

Fellow veterinary nurse Kathryn Latimer nominated her for the award. In her submission she said: “I feel Louise is a shining example of everything the Golden Jubilee Award encompasses – she has demonstrated exception abilities as a leader, not only to veterinary nurses, but to veterinary surgeons... [and] has demonstrated personal commitment to her personal education, and therefore to patient care, by pursuing a remarkable range of qualifications.”

Miss O’Dwyer says: “Nursing is about making your mark, about being there for your patients, and for me that’s what my career has been about. It’s a bit of a cliché, but we really are the voice of our patients, and so when people ask me ‘why do you spend so much time with getting extra qualifications?’, it’s really about making sure I’m better able to help my patients.

“As I get older it’s also about educating the next generation of veterinary nurses, helping to train them to do the same and to spread our knowledge and training. Our training is something British vet nurses can really be proud of, and it’s humbling to receive this Award when I know just how many other dedicated, passionate vet nurses are out there, but I am truly grateful that the RCVS, and my colleagues, think that I am a worthy recipient.”

Miss O’Dwyer will be presented with the Golden Jubilee Award at RCVS Day – our Annual General Meeting and Awards Day - on Friday 15 July. A limited number of tickets are available for veterinary surgeons and veterinary nurses. To order these contact Emma Lockley, our Events Officer, on [email protected]