Brora's Glenda and the three degrees
A high-flying nurse who hails originally from Brora but now lives in London, has added another degree to her string of impressive academic qualifications.
Glenda Baillie (40) graduated last month with a Master of Arts (with distinction) degree from the University of Warwick.
A former Brora Primary and Golspie High School pupil, Glenda is the daughter of Mavis and Donnie Baillie, Rosslyn Street.
She was inspired to take up a nursing career while undertaking voluntary and summer work as a teenager in various local caring organisations.
After graduating in 1998 from Robert Gordon University (RGU) in Aberdeen with a Diploma in Higher Education (adult nursing), Glenda spent a year in general surgical nursing at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary,
She moved to London in 1999 to take up a post as staff nurse in accident and emergency at St Mary’s Hospital, Paddington.
During her four years there, she rose to become a junior sister and gained a wide range of emergency skills, completing an accident and emergency nursing course and becoming an advanced life support provider.
While at St Mary’s she was involved in providing care to victims of major incidents, including the Paddington rail crash in October 1999 when 31 people died and 400 were injured.
Glenda moved on in 2003 to take up the role of clinical skills tutor for University College London Medical School. During her six years at the school, she was promoted to senior clinical skills tutor/centre manager.
She also added to her academic qualifications, graduating in 2005 from Kings College University, London with a BSc degree in Critical Care Nursing and from the University of Greenwich the following year with a post graduate certificate in education.
She told the Northern Times: "I also became an advanced life support instructor and took an increasing pastoral role in medical student professional development. This is when I started to appreciate fully the benefits of mentorship, supervision and coaching."
Glenda left the medical school in the autumn of 2009 to take up her current post of clinical nurse specialist in patient at risk and resuscitation at the Royal Free Hospital, London.
She said: "This is a multi-faceted role providing 24-hour, hospital-wide expertise in the assessment and management of critically ill patients and taking a lead role in resuscitation situations and resuscitation training for staff at all levels."
Her interest in training led her to embark on the Master of Arts in Coaching course at Warwick University. She completed the course over two years part-time whilst continuing to work
full-time, travelling from London to the university
in Coventry once a month to attend day workshops.
Glenda said: "My cohort was the first to complete this Masters programme and I was the only participant from a health care background studying alongside professional, executive and sports coaches.
"I was fortunate enough to have been awarded a bursary towards my study from the Worshipful Society of Cordwainers, a charitable society associated with the Royal Free Hospital. I was also well supported by my manager and colleagues."
Glenda’s parents were unable to travel south for her graduation but she was accompanied by her close friend Cheryl Goddard and seven-year-old godson, Jacob Goddard, Cheryl’s son.
She said: "The sun shone and we all enjoyed a fantastic day."
Glenda now plans to continue in her present clinical nurse specialist role but also pursue her interest in training.
She said: "I’m particularly interested in coaching junior staff and also in helping individuals achieve personal goals and development.
"I myself have been on a personal journey from being mainly sedentary to becoming fit enough to complete two half marathons and a Tough Mudder obstacle course in the last three years."
She is a frequent visitor to Brora to visit her parents, family and friends.
She said: "I have just enjoyed a glorious August week catching up with everyone and making the most of the beautiful weather on Brora beach."
