Shauna shines through to take top award

Shauna Whelan of Advance Veterinary Care in Lisburn was selected from all the entries to receive the prestigious award after being nominated by one of the practice’s clients.

In the positively glowing nomination entry, Shauna’s ability to make everyone feel welcome, her rapport with both client and patient and consistent desire to do her absolute best were described.

Her “outstanding personality” and “extraordinary contribution” to the practice were cited by her nominee, as well as the accolade of inspiring trust in all her clients and colleagues.

Shauna’s success in her chosen career hasn’t come without sacrifice. Her course has meant leaving her home and husband in Dublin to work and train in Belfast.

She sadi: “Getting this award has really reaffirmed to me how this was the right decision to take… and has also confirmed that I am doing a good job.

“With this win, I am driven even more to do well in my course, follow best practise and do the best I possibly can for my team and my patients. I intend to take every opportunity to enhance my knowledge and expand on my skills base.”

Shauna insisted she is not solely responsible for her success and is keen to thank everyone who has supported her.

She attributes her win to a combination of her “wonderful, devoted husband” who has been unwavering in his support of her throughout the two years of her training so far, her clients - particularly those who nominated her and her colleagues.

She said: “I feel that I have not won this award for myself, but for Advance Veterinary Care… and would like to thank Geoff and Emma Clarke (practice owners) for putting their faith in me. I have a great deal of respect for them both, they are wonderful people and I hope I am making them proud”. This year, some great nominations resulted in a tough task for BVNA judges deciding on the winners in each of the four categories. The event, supported by Hill’s Pet Nutrition is now in its fifth year and was initiated to help veterinary nurses receive wider recognition of their work.