Building bridges between care and research

Isabelle Denis has been a nurse at the CHUM since 1998 and had planned to devote herself to training students who had chosen this career, but in the end, she decided to turn to clinical research at the CRCHUM.

If this position had not occurred to her at first, it was because she did not want to put aside human contact. “I thought that researchers were far from the reality on the ground, that they were always in their laboratory, but that was before I knew that clinical research existed. I thought I wouldn’t be as close to the patients, but in reality, I’m always with them,” she explains.

At the heart of electrophysiology  

In 2006, after completing her bachelor's degree in nursing, Isabelle joined the electrophysiology research team at the CRCHUM, where she worked on fifteen projects related to cardiac arrhythmia and atrial fibrillation.  

Some studies involve testing new drugs in patients while others aim to establish new indications for an existing drug or update intracardiac procedures for people with a pacemaker or defibrillator. Moreover, to hone her skills, she also completed a master's program in pharmaceutical product development at Université Laval in 2007. 

Overall, she currently follows about 200 patients aged 21 to 94. She meets with the new participants in the study and then monitors their condition from the beginning to the end of the project. “My priority is the patient,” she says. “As the weeks go by, I develop a close bond with them, because I sometimes follow them for several years. Clinical nurses play an important role in research, they don't just do paperwork! They support patients in their episodes of care even as they participate in various research projects.” 

CHUM

An environment conducive to development

What Isabelle appreciates most about her job at the CRCHUM is her professional autonomy and the trust that researchers place in her: “I can decide on patient follow-ups myself and I have the opportunity to exercise my clinical judgment as a nurse.”

For her, the CRCHUM is a stimulating professional environment, as new research projects are constantly emerging to improve the health and quality of life of patients in the long term. The cutting-edge facilities and family atmosphere also contribute to her professional development.

In order to keep abreast of what’s happening at the CRCHUM, she participates as much as possible in clinical research meetings, which bring together staff and clinical nurses from other units. These meetings are a unique opportunity to discuss common issues in the research environment and to share solutions that have proven to be effective.

Balance from every angle

To unwind from her busy days, Isabelle has been practicing pilates for nine years, as well as painting on specially selected pieces of wood. Travel and dinners with friends are also an important part of her life, as human relationships are one of her raisons d'être.

Over the next few years, she wants to continue working as a clinical nurse at the CRCHUM, because she feels that she is helping to make a difference in the lives of people suffering from heart disease. Her great adaptability will certainly help her meet all the challenges she’ll face, both professionally and personally. 
 

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