Head and Neck Cancer Foundation

PAULA SANKEY 

Clinical Nurse Consultant

Paula Sankey qualified as a registered nurse in 1994. She began working at Prince of Wales Hospital (POWH), and soon found her interest in surgical nursing. 
In 2010, she followed her passion and became a Clinical Nurse Specialist in Head & Neck/ENT. Her career then progressed to Clinical Nurse Educator for the general surgical program. Experiences in this role inspired the completion of a Certificate IV in Workplace Training and Assessment in 2012.
In 2013, Paula acquired a Gradate Certificate in Acute Nursing and was appointed POWH Clinical Nurse Consultant for Head and Neck/ENT. She has continued in the field of Head & Neck/ENT and Plastic & Reconstructive surgery. 
She was integral in establishing the POWH Tracheostomy Review Assessment & Intervention Team (TRAIT) in 2013. This is a unique service established within the Sydney Hospital Network. 
Paula’s role continues to co-ordinate the team, review and evaluate all tracheostomy inpatients, improve patient outcomes, and support hospital teams in tracheostomy care.
She is an active member of the Head and Neck Multidisciplinary Team in both a clinical and social support aspect. Paula is the point of contact for many patients and their families who are undergoing this difficult time, providing support, education and information. She helps provide expert clinical nursing advice to patients, carers and other health care professionals which helps the facilitation, implementation and evaluation of patient centred care outcomes, and support hospital teams in tracheostomy care.