JANESVILLE, Wis. — In the spotlight for Women’s History Month, Kara Sankey, chief nursing officer at Mercyhealth in Rock County, shared how her career trajectory has defied convention.
Straight out of high school, Sankey began at Mercyhealth as a tech in Hospital Environmental Services. That’s the term used to refer to specialized cleaning and disinfecting services in medical facilities.
From those humble beginnings in housekeeping, she paid her dues and took advantage of Mercyhealth’s career advancement opportunities. Two decades later, she now serves as the head of the hospital’s nursing program.
“Nursing is something I’ve wanted to do since day one,” Sankey said, reflecting on her deep connection to Mercyhealth.
Her legacy spans three generations, with several family mementos highlighting their century-long commitment to health care.
It was one of the main reasons why the top nurse said she was focused on inspiring future generations through a new effort designed for high school students and Mercyhealth employees looking to switch gears.
“And so what we have to do is not scare people away from health care, but welcome them in and show them trajectories to get high paying long-term jobs right out of high school because we have to show them what health care is all about,” she said.
MercyHealth’s Nursing Assistant Program began less than a year ago. Sankey said the effort addressed the shortage of training programs in Rock County.
Program Director Michelle DeMinn applauded its success.
“This is a prerequisite for a lot of nursing programs,” she said.
As a lifelong learner, Sankey is continuing with her own schooling as she pursues her Doctor of Nursing Practice.
Lindsay Blagen, director of nursing services, commended her as a “go-getter” who constantly strives for improvement.
Sankey said success in this field is attainable by remaining focused on your goals.
“It does happen. If you put your head down, work hard, and put yourself out there, you can do a lot of things,” she said.
Beyond professional achievements, Sankey, a devoted mother of two, said she was proud to help run an award-winning female-forward hospital.
EVS Supervisor Deann Olson said she appreciated Sankey’s unwavering support.
“Whenever anything happens, we always can count on her,” Olson said.