Caralyn Bencsik

Biography

Caralyn Bencsik is an adult neurocritical care Nurse Practitioner with nearly two decades of nursing experience within Alberta Health Services. She completed her education with a Practical Nurse Diploma at Bow Valley College in 2010, Bachelor of Nursing at Athabasca University in 2013, and Master of Nursing - Nurse Practitioner at the University of Calgary in 2020. Caralyn began her nursing career in 2008 as a Nursing Attendant, with subsequent experience as a Licensed Practical Nurse, Undergraduate Nurse, and Registered Nurse in orthopedic surgery, trauma/surgery, and critical care as an RN in the FMC ICU from 2015-2020. Since completing her Masters, Caralyn has held NP positions in Cardiovascular Surgery, Neurology, and Critical Care. She has established the first neurocritical care NP role in Calgary and has clinical expertise in multimodal neuromonitoring, chronic critical illness, and provides neurocritical care ICU outreach and consultations to patients in critical care units and on the neuroscience and trauma wards at FMC. In addition to her clinical work, Caralyn is an Adjunct Assistant Professor with the Cumming School of Medicine and Department of Critical Care Medicine. She is an early career clinical researcher with an interest in the impact of NPs in critical care settings and neurocritical care, specifically post cardiac arrest neuroprognostication. She has obtained several academic grants, has led multiple studies, and has several peer reviewed publications. She holds multiple leadership positions including co-chairing the FMC Neurocritical Care Committee and DCCM Interdisciplinary Research Committee