A SENIOR nurse at Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is celebrating after being awarded a highly sought after scholarship.

Valentine Chiguvare, associate director of nursing at the Trust, which runs Basingstoke and North Hampshire Hospital, Royal Hampshire County Hospital in Winchester and Andover War Memorial Hospital, has been named as one of a handful of applicants accepted onto the Florence Nightingale Foundation Aspiring Nurse Directors Leadership Scholarship.

The 12-month programme is for nurses and midwives who have the potential to secure a board position in the not-too-distant future.

Valentine (pictured) said: “I’m really looking forward to embarking on the programme. It’s a natural next step for me in my development as a nurse leader and I was really pleased to be accepted. It was a tough application process and I’m delighted to be one of those chosen to take part.”

The scholarship is a bespoke leadership development programme that could see Valentine offered the opportunity to travel nationally and internationally as part of his learning. He will also attend study days in London and undertake a quality improvement project.

“I’m especially excited about getting my teeth into the project,” Valentine added.

“I’m planning to look into how we can make sure we admit patients to the most appropriate ward, so they can immediately get the care and treatment that they require.”