Carlyn Barclay is a Post-Operative Cardiac Surgery Registered Nurse who currently lives in Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada. She is in her first year as a student in the Master of Global Surgical Care program.
Read on to find out more about Carlyn, her experiences, what led her to MGSC, and more!
What are some of your hobbies & interests (cooking, sports, travelling, etc?) What do you love to do in your spare time?
As we all know, managing a work-life balance can be challenging but I do my best to fill my spare time with things I enjoy and find passion in. I love being outside, so several of my hobbies include outdoor activities such as camping, skiing, and hiking. Although with that said, I also always enjoy a relaxing day inside where I can do some baking, reading, or work on a new pottery project. Travelling has also been a life-long passion and interest of mine which likely holds an influence on my decision to pursue the MGSC program.
Can you please tell us about your career or professional background?
I have dreamed of working in health care since I was young, but deciding what position I wanted to have in health care was challenging to decipher. I knew nursing was for me when I discovered the influence nurses have on patient outcomes and the versatility of the career. Currently, I am a post-operative cardiac surgery registered nurse, and I am thrilled and intrigued by my nursing role everyday. I have worked as a cardiac nurse and post-operative cardiac surgery nurse for the entirety of my career, and one day I plan to pursue a career as a nurse practitioner.
What has inspired you to study and work in the field of global surgery? Please share any experiences you have had in global surgery work.
I have witnessed several inequities and inequalities during my time as a registered nurse. Due to this, I have recognized the impact I could have with helping to resolve such inequalities and inequities in my community and those around the world. I hope to contribute some of the knowledge I have, and will gain throughout the MGSC program, to combat some of the inequities, inequalities, and resource scarcities within other countries and communities around the world. Although my experience in global surgery is slim, my traveling experiences have provided me great perspective to some of the challenges other communities around the world are subjected to. The eye-opening perspective I have gained has allowed my interest in global surgery to flourish.
What attracted you to the MGSC? How do you plan to use the skills and knowledge gained from this program in your career in the future?
I was attracted to the MGSC program as I had never heard of anything like it! I loved the concept of working towards improving surgical care in resource limited countries, as well as becoming more knowledgeable about disease burdens in low-income countries. I am aiming to use the knowledge I gain in this program and my experience as a registered nurse to help improve surgical care outcomes in resource limited countries and make a difference in global surgical care.
Can you tell us more about your experience as a nurse in the MGSC program and any advice you have for nurses or allied health professionals interested in our program?
As a nurse in the MGSC program, I originally found myself wondering if I had enough knowledge, experience, or credentials to effectively contribute to improving global surgical care. However, after reflecting on the critical role nurses have in surgical care, I knew that I belonged in this program. With working in mainly post-operative environments, but occasionally in pre-operative as well, I am able to understand the critical component nurses have in the entirety of the surgical process and their outcome. For this reason, I know I have the knowledge that will benefit global surgical care and that this program will help supplement my knowledge and help me put it to use.
The MGSC program has provided me a new outlook on several disease processes and outcomes and the interrelated aspects involved in managing global health concerns. I hope that any nurse or allied health professional intrigued in this program pursues it! All health care providers play a role in global surgical care and can contribute their different experiences and outlooks to make a difference.