Dr Carla Sunner

Dr Carla Sunner is a Lecturer in the School of Nursing and Midwifery, bringing over 30 years of nursing experience from diverse clinical settings in Australia and overseas to apply to teaching and research.

My rich background includes work in rural and remote locations and various departments such as acute care, palliative care, community, and the Emergency Department (ED). 

I am honoured to be a registered nurse and to have the opportunity to apply my knowledge, and experience, writing and teaching both in the Postgraduate and Bachelor of Nursing curriculum to nurses as they start or continue in their nursing careers. I have a commitment to lifelong learning, demonstrated by completing my Masters in Advanced Practice Nursing, with an older person specialty, and the award of my PhD in 2023.

My key focus areas aim to encourage future nurses to connect their higher education learning in a way that helps them approach patient care with compassion and empathy for older people. Older person nursing can be complex and challenging however the rewards are well worth it. Caring for older people is a privilege, the contribution they have made to our society and to our lives is immeasurable.

Research Focus and Outcomes

My research aims to improve outcomes for older people during their transfer from the community to hospital and back to the community. In 2023, I commenced working on the Representations to the Emergency Department for reasons of Pain for Older People or the RED-POP project. This project seeks to investigate the reasons behind frequent hospital re-admissions among older individuals, particularly focusing on pain-related issues. The objective is to gather critical data that will serve as the initial step in establishing an evidence-based understanding of pain representations in the older person demographic. Understanding the reasons why older people present to ED will help identify key opportunities to help support or implement strategies that minimise unnecessary Emergency Department visits among older people.

In my role within as the project coordinator of the Partnerships in Aged-Care Emergency services using Interactive Telehealth (PACE-IT) project, we evaluated the use of telehealth in emergency care for older patients residing in residential aged care facilities (RACFs). Our findings underscored the importance of innovation in healthcare delivery, especially for an ageing population that often resides in remote and rural areas. Notably, the project demonstrated the positive impact of augmenting traditional phone calls to the ED with visual telehealth consultations. By doing so, we achieved a reduction in avoidable presentations to the ED, which benefits both the healthcare system as a whole and, more importantly, the individual older person. Now with the implementation of PACE-IT, older residents may have the opportunity to recover safely and comfortably within the familiar surroundings of their own RACF rather than a visit to ED.

The PACE-IT project is not only the subject of my PhD but also a testament to the power of forward-thinking solutions in healthcare. It reinforces the idea that embracing technology and innovative approaches can lead to better outcomes for our ageing population. This research aligns to the UN Sustainability Development Goals; 3 Good health and well-being 4.  Quality education,10. Reduced inequalities 11. Sustainable cities and communities.

As a dedicated healthcare professional, I am committed to transforming the healthcare system through rigorous research and dedicated teaching. My goal is to work toward a sustainable health system that prioritises patient-centric outcomes, promotes personalised care, and invests in wellness.

I believe in leveraging digital technology for enhanced service delivery. I aim to make a significant impact on healthcare, improving it not just for the current population, and also for the future.

Keywords: nursing, aged care, personalised care, aged health care, palliative care, end of life care, rural and remote health