May 7, 2026
Cardiac nurse shares love of field
For Nurse Appreciation Week, we sat down with Jennifer Sullivan, RN, BScN to discuss her love of her career and her involvement in the Masters of Nursing program at the University of 不良研究所. Sullivan is a nurse clinician in Southern Alberta Adult Congenital Heart (SAACH) Clinic.
About 25 years ago, Jennifer Sullivan, RN, BScN, found her calling when she switched from an engineering to a nursing degree. After more than 20 years in the nursing field, it鈥檚 a choice she is grateful for.
Sullivan is a nurse clinician in the SAACH at the Peter Lougheed Centre, a role she took on after a colleague, recognizing Sullivan鈥檚 affinity for working with complex patients, recommended.
鈥淚 am so glad that I decided to go into nursing, because I love it so much,鈥 says Sullivan. 鈥淲orking in the SAACH clinic, I have found my calling.鈥
Sullivan is captivated by the uniqueness of each adult patient with congenital heart disease.
鈥淚 have always been fascinated by how the heart works, and adult congenital heart disease brings that to a whole new level,鈥 she says. 鈥淓ach patient has been born with such a unique heart.鈥
The uniqueness of each patient鈥檚 heart makes it critical for the SAACH team to focus on each individual鈥檚 needs and journey, when thinking about management and treatment based on available growing knowledge and guidelines.
鈥淚t makes our clinic truly patient-centred, and I really enjoy that,鈥 says Sullivan.
Another aspect of the clinic that Sullivan appreciates is the long-term relationships she develops with patients. That relationship develops over time as the health care team monitors patients and walks with them through their personal and medical ups and downs throughout their adult life.
鈥淓ach person鈥檚 journey is so personal to them, and I am so honoured to be part of their lives,鈥 says Sullivan.
Patients are often referred to the SAACH clinic when they graduate from pediatric care at age 18. The team helps them with the often-difficult transition of having someone else, often a parent, who has led their serious illness care from their first days to years of life, to taking responsibility for their own care.
According to Sullivan, the team works closely with each patient not only through this transition, but throughout their life. Over time, they touch on many topics, from career and family planning to pregnancy and childbirth and neurodevelopmental and psychosocial challenges.
Sullivan says she also learns from her patients.
鈥淏ecause of advances in treatment and care, more children with congenital heart disease survive into adulthood,鈥 she says. 鈥淭hat means the adult congenital heart disease population is relatively new, and we as staff are learning from them.鈥
Sullivan is taking that learning to a new level.
Inspired by a desire to augment support for her patients, the mother of three recently enrolled into the Masters of Nursing program at the University of 不良研究所. Her master鈥檚 project will focus on how health care teams can best have difficult conversations with patients.
According to Sullivan, the adult congenital heart population often faces more risk with certain life events like pregnancy, and they may undergo multiple complex procedures. They are also more likely to face complications such as arrhythmias earlier and throughout their life.
Their increased risk makes it particularly important that their health care team be able to discuss potential risks and unplanned outcomes.
However, how best to identify which patients are open to those conversations, and how to make time, space and room for them isn鈥檛 always clear.
Sullivan hopes to address that through her master鈥檚 project.
鈥淲hen I worked in the intensive care unit, I saw families trying to make decisions without their loved ones鈥 input,鈥 she says. 鈥淭hat was really difficult, and I realized we should all be discussing our wishes in case we are unable to in the future. My goal is to ensure that the wishes and preferences of patients are documented.鈥