Raji Thomas

Raji Thomas is a passionate professional nurse advocate. She currently serves as a Lecturer in Practice Learning at Liverpool John Moores University, with a 23-year career spanning various roles such as Pastoral Educator and Clinical Nurse Project Manager. She teaches in various modules, including the practice module, PNA program, and the globalisation of nursing. Additionally, her responsibilities encompass quality assurance of clinical placements, setup of new civic engagement placements, and providing support to students as both an academic link and assessor. Raji firmly believes that fostering high-quality practice placements is one of the most significant contributions we can make to the professional journeys of student nurses.

She is currently collaborating with the NIENA network to co-produce a transitional toolkit for international student nurses. Her unwavering commitment to excellence has earned her several prestigious accolades, including the Chief Nursing Officer’s Silver Award, the Alder Hey Award, and the Alder Hey Christmas Star Awards. Raji also played a pivotal role in the successful application for the NHS Pastoral Quality Care Award at her previous trust, which facilitated the development of a strategic pathway for the transition of international nurses to UK nursing. This initiative led to recognition as a finalist for the Best Recruitment Experience at the Nursing Times Workforce Summit Awards 2023. Notably, she was invited to meet His Majesty King Charles on his 75th Birthday in acknowledgement of her work with internationally recruited nurses during the pandemic. As a new researcher, she is spearheading a qualitative study focused on student well-being, restoration, and resilience.