SUNA Spotlight: Jill Sullivan
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June’s SUNA Spotlight
features Jill Sullivan, RN, BSN, a research
coordinator in the Department of Urology at
Jill earned her Associate of
Science in Nursing degree from
She explains her career in
nursing:
“I have worked for Henry Ford
Health System for 19 years,” Jill boasts. “I started in outpatient Internal
Medicine, then Oncology, Oncology Research, Urology, and Urology Research. Previously, I worked at Sinai Hospital of
Detroit in the Department of General Surgery for four years. That is where I
learned to manually irrigate bladder on postoperative TURP patients.”
As to why she joined SUNA,
Jill said it has been extremely helpful for her career studies and career
advancement.
“I joined SUNA as a vehicle
of learning and networking when I started working in Urology,” she admits.
“When I had worked Oncology, I was a member of the Oncology Nursing Society and
I felt it was very helpful. I also plan on taking the certification exam. In the future, I hope to be more active in
the Great Lakes Chapter. I have had
great benefit from the articles in Urologic
Nursing. There is always at least
one article that is interesting or applicable to my practice.
“I honestly did not choose
urology – it chose me. The clinic I was
working in needed a nurse who could give BCG treatments, and I thought it was
an interesting area. Even better, three
years into my urology experience, a research position opened, and that is where
I have remained since 2001.”
Jill’s home life is also a
unique one. Her husband, John, is a contracting specialist at Tank and
Automotive Command in
“I consider myself
fortunate,” says Jill. “My husband made it home.”
Outside of the house, Jill
and John have a Shih Tzu, Ozzie, who Jill takes to a local nursing home for the
Dearborn Pet-A-Pet Club. The couple also
has an orange tabby cat named Zeke, who, “as any cat owner will tell you, runs
the house.”