NOVEMBER SUNA SPOTLIGHT

Zarr Fuller

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Zarr Fuller has been around the world and then some.

Currently working at the University of Michigan Medical Center as a nurse clinician at the Urology Adult Clinic, Zarr has also been employed in Australia and California after being born in Malaysia.

“I was born in the southern tip of Peninsula Malaysia as the youngest of 19 children,” says Zarr. “I have 14 brothers and four sisters, but I am the only one who left home to live in the United States. My nickname is “Kepek,” a Malay term that means “flat nose.” I used to tell my friends that my nickname derives from having the smallest nose in the family – that’s all my mother could afford to give me after bearing 19 children!”

At U of M, Zarr’s duties include telephone triage, clinic duties, patient teaching and assisting with clinic projects.

In 1976, Zarr received her diploma in nursing from Fremantle Hospital in Fremantle, Western Australia and then in 1993 was awarded her BSN from the University of Michigan. She completed her school cycle with a Masters of Science in Administration of Nursing and Patient Care Services from Michigan in 2000.

From 1993-2005, Zarr was employed at the University of Michigan before jaunting off to St. Joseph Hospital in Eureka, Calif., for two years. She came back to Ann Arbor this past September.

She said she chose the urology field due to the many opportunities the field presents.

“Urology is an interesting specialty,” Zarr says. “Urology has interested me since I first started my nursing career. It all started when my own family members had several urological issues and I saw how they were poorly managed. My curious mind then began to want to understand the disease processes and their treatment modalities. Great opportunities came along when I worked on the urology floor and in the operating room where I was directly involved in the care of urology patient population as a nurse, urology service coordinator and educator.”

Zarr is also becoming an active member of the Great Lakes chapter of SUNA.

“I joined SUNA for various reasons,” notes Zarr. “To network, share and exchange knowledge with all the nursing professionals who are involved in urologic nursing, to broaden my perspectives, increase my knowledge, and improve my standard of nursing practice in this specialty and to help expand and advocate urology nursing.”

As for what has SUNA been able to do for Zarr?

“SUNA provided me with excellent preparatory materials when I sat for Board certification,” she said. “With Board certification, I have been well-recognized and managed to get the job that I want. I enjoy all of the educational information that SUNA provides through journal articles, newsletters, educational conferences and meetings.”

Away from work, Zarr leads a life just as busy.

She is married to a true Michigander, Donald, and has three step-children and five step-grandchildren who “are so dear to me.”

During her leisure time (that includes vacation), Zarr likes to read, cook and travel.

“I love to share my Malaysian culture and cuisine with my friends, relatives and the public,” says Zarr. “I enjoy doing presentations on Malaysian culture to the local school children at the school’s Annual International Day, for example.”

Still, her passion for urology is extraordinary.

“The knowledge that I have acquired thus far is tremendous,” adds Zarr. “My learning opportunities in urology are still never ending.”