WOCNews Issue 3 - 2012 by WOCN® Society

Issue 3 • 2012

Departments

Features

President’s Letter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Conference . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

Regional News . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Great Comebacks ® . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

Education . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

Member Benefit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

Public Policy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

Scholarship Recipients . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

Director’s Corner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24

Combat Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26

Member Spotlight . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28

CCI . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30

Cover Story The WOCN ® Society recently released the 2012 WOC Nursing Salary and Productivity Survey, taken by more than 1,600 WOCN members. Learn more about how this can help your professional development as a WOC nurse on page 16.

www.wocn.org

President’s Letter

President’s Recap of the WOCN Society’s 44th Annual Conference Kate Lawrence, MSN, RN, CWOCN President, WOCN Society The WOCN members were honored to host Linda Burns Bolton, DrPH, RN, FAAN, at the WOCN Society’s 44th Annual Conference in Charlotte. Dr. Bolton is the vice president and CNO of Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and past panel member of the IOM report of the Future of Nursing. Dr. Bolton came to share with us how the IOM report came into fruition, and how by the nature of icontent, its intent was to drive nursing to the forefront of health care changes in this country. She discussed the important recommendations put forth by the Future of Nursing report and how it applies

to nurses as individuals, health care institutions, educational institutions and nursing organizations. I invite you to hear Dr. Bolton’s full address, which is accessible in the Continuing Education Center (CEC) under the Webcasts (www.wocncec.org). The Future of Nursing recommendations include in part: • Removal of Scope of Practice Barriers for all nurses, in all settings. • Expansion of opportunities for nurses to lead collaborative improvement efforts.

The value of the WOC nurse, and the value of WOC nursing education and certification has never been more clear than now at this juncture of health care reform.

Continued on page 4

WOCN Bulletin Board: Call for Abstracts August 27, 2012 World Ostomy Day October 6, 2012 WOCN Society’s 45 th Annual Conference Website Launch November 2012 2

WOCNews

Issue 3 • 2012

WOCN Society Board and Committee Chairs Board

Committee Chairs

President 2011 – 2013 Kathleen G. Lawrence, MSN, RN, CWOCN Rutland, Vt. etnurse@rrmc.org

Accreditation Committee Jody Scardillo, MS, RN, ANP-BC, CWOCN Albany, N.Y. s4392521@capital.net

President-Elect 2011 – 2013 Phyllis T. Kupsick, MSN, FNP-BC, CWOCN Albemarle, N.C. phylliskupsick@carolina.rr.com

Continence Committee Margaret Willson, MSN, RN, CWOCN Hales Corner, Wis. midge.willson@hollister.com

Secretary 2012 – 2014 Dea Kent, MSN, RN, NP-C, CWOCN Noblesville, Ind. dkent@riverview.org

Development Committee Laurie L. McNichol, MSN, RN, GNP, CWOCN Greensboro, N.C. mcnichol@triad.rr.com

Treasurer 2012 – 2014 Carolyn Watts, MSN, RN, CWON Nashville, Tenn. carolyn.watts@vanderbilt.edu

Education Committee Shawneen Schmitt, MSN, MS, RN, CWOCN, CFCN Menomonee Falls, Wis.

Directors

2012 – 2014 Carole Bauer, MSN, RN, ANP-BC, OCN, CWOCN Detroit, Mich. bauerc@karmanos.org 2011 – 2013 Mary Jo Conley, BSN, RN, CWOCN Hackensack, N.J. mjc998@comcast.net 2011 – 2013 Jennifer Gavin-Hess, BSN, RN, CIC, CWON Fremont, Calif. Jennifer.B.Hess@kp.org 2012 – 2014 Regina F. Holmes, MSN, RN, CWOCN, FNP-BC Loris, S.C. rholmes@lorishealth.org

sschmitt@communitymemorial.com

Marketing and . Communications Committee Dianne Fesser, MS, RN, CWOCN, GCNS-BC Troy, Pa. John_Dianne@frontier.com Membership Committee Barbara Dale, BSN, RN, CWOCN, CHHN Livingston, Tenn. bdale@ . qualityhomehealth.com National Conference . Planning Committee Joyce Pittman, PhD, FNPBC, CWOCN Indianapolis, Ind. jpittma3@iuhealth.org

National Public . Policy Committee Suzanne Collins, MS, BSN, RN, CWOCN Norcross, Ga. suzanne.collins@ . molnlyckeus.com Nominations Committee Margaret T. Goldberg, MSN, RN, CWOCN DelRay Beach, Fla. margoldb@comcast.net Ostomy Committee Mary Mahoney, BSN, RN, CWON Urbandale, Iowa mahonemf@ihs.org Professional Practice . Committee Sonya Perry, MSN, RN, CWOCN Charleston, W.Va. sonya.perry@camc.org Scholarship Committee Kevin R. Emmons, DrNP, RN, CWCN Camden, N.J.

kremmons@camden.rutgers.edu

Wound Committee Karen Keaney Gluckman, MSN, RN, FNP-BC, CWOCN Paterson, N.J. karengfnp@aol.com Wound Treatment . Associate Committee Dorothy Doughty, MN, RN, CWOCN, FAAN Stone Mountain, Ga. ddought@emory.edu

WOCN Society Mission The WOCN Society is a professional nursing organization that supports its members by promoting educational, clinical, and research opportunities to advance the practice and guide the delivery of expert health care to individuals with wounds, ostomies and incontinence. Executive Director Nicolette Zuecca, MPA, CAE nzuecca@wocn.org WOCNews is a publication of the Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nurses Society™ (WOCN®) 15000 Commerce Parkway Suite C Mt. Laurel, NJ 08054 888/224-WOCN www.wocn.org www.wocnfoundation.org Publication Date: August 2012

www.wocn.org

President’s Letter

• Validation of the importance of increasing the number of nurses with baccalaureate and doctorate degrees. • Ensure that nurses engage in life long learning. • Prepare and enable nurses to lead change to advance health. • Build an improved infrastructure for collection and analysis of interprofessional health care workforce data (Burnes Bolton, L., 2012).

WOCNews

Issue 3 • 2012

The value of the WOC nurse, and the value of WOC nursing education and certification has never been more clear than now at this juncture of health care reform. Health care business is changing daily and we are all experiencing the influence of these changes in our daily work lives with downsizing, productivity challenges, and reimbursement and regulation stipulations. The WOCN Society has its mission to support its membership in growth and development and promote ac-

cess to care for individuals with wound, ostomy and continence needs. Now more than ever we must seek the opportunities that will germinate from this overhaul of our health care system. There have been conference sessions and Journal of Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nursing (JWOCN) articles discussing the role of the advanced practice nurse in the health care future. The intent of this discussion is not to diminish or degrade any other level of education, not-

ing specifically the criteria for entry in WOC nursing specialty practice is at the baccalaureate level. The conversation is about the range of opportunities that exist for those interested in pursuing further advanced education, and what that may look like for someone who would like to continue to specialize in WOC nursing. I was asked at the Business Meeting if the Society was looking at changing the active membership level to Advanced Practice. The collective answer from the Board of Directors and myself as President is a resounding ‘no.’ The conversations are occurring because some of our members are considering Advanced Practice degrees and as a Society we need to be a tune to some variable needs of those members, for example, APRN level contact hours and access to APRN Scholarship monies. We have worked to incorporate access to these options in our offerings. Follow the lead of the Future of Nursing report we need to encourage life long learning.

FACMI and Dr. Donna Bliss, PhD, RN, FAAN, FGSA as principle investigators of our WOCN Society funded grant. Dr. Westra and Dr. Bliss informed the audience that WOC nurses do make a difference in home health care outcomes! I guide you to the CEC (www.wocncec.org) to hear the full presentation. They will publish their findings in JWOCN in the near future.

included on our Web page are our ever evolving Health Care Agenda and Advocacy Tab, located in the “About Us” section. Both resources are tools to help our members prepare to be positioned in the work place as leaders and as collaborators in health care access and change.

I point you as well to www. wocn.org/RAResource (click on Members Business Meeting Another important article rePresentation 2012) where you garding utilization of the WOC can hear the Presidential opennurse Scope and Standards in ing remarks and the WOCN practice will also be appearing Annual Business meeting for soon in the JWOCN. Both of further information on how the these publications are intended WOCN Society is working on to assist you the member in pro- keeping the Society and you, moting and supporting your role the member, Competitive, Relby providing data and resources evant and Sustainable. from a solid peer reviewed source. The Future of Nursing is in our hands, and the Future of WOC These are activities that follow nursing is part of that challenge the Future of Nursing directives and privilege. It is my honor of supporting the full engageto continue to work with all of ment of nurses in their scope of you as we make a difference in practice. health care and quality of care in this country. The new Empowerment Section of the WOCN website is up and Reference: The Outcomes Study: The Efrunning. This will be a reposiBurnes Bolton, L. (2012, June). The WOC Nurse’s Roles in Leading fectiveness of a WOC Nurse tory for professional support Charge to Improve Health Care. was presented at our annual materials that will be developed Speech presented at the WOCN conference in Charlotte by Dr. based on membership feedback Society’s 44th Annual Conference, Bonnie Westra, PhD, RN, FAAN, and strategic initiatives. Also Charlotte, N.C.

www.wocn.org

Regional News

News from the WOC World Blue Ridge Affiliate

Hampton Roads Affiliate

• The Affiliate continues to • The Affiliate welcomes new grow with more nurses from leadership. the WOC field in Central o Louise Johnson – Virginia. Their meetings offer President nurses working in different o Kathy Merkh – settings the opportunity to President-Elect engage and network. o Lisa Radford – Treasurer • They recently initiated a supo Holly Leonidoff – port group for patients with Secretary ostomies. You can contact • Members have done a lot to Joann Plencner at jmp3ah@ better WOC nursing the past virginia.edu for more information. • Their next Affiliate meeting will be held Oct. 16, 2012 at 5:30 p.m. You can contact the Blue Ridge Affiliate President, Jane Fellows at dancingdeer.fellows@gmail. com for more information on the next support meeting being held.

Central NY Affiliate

• Members plan to attend the 2012 NER conference in Princeton, N.J. They are also continuing to plan the 2013 NER annual conference, including seeking out local and national speakers. • Members meet monthly to plan the 2013 conference. • The affiliate will meet Sept. 14, 2012 in Syracuse, N.Y. 6

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Issue 3 • 2012

few months. Eighteen members attended the WOCN Society’s 44th Annual Conference. The following presented posters: Mary Dalton, Jan Thape and Penny Crawford. • Cindy Miller, chair of the Public Policy Committee, represented the affiliate on Capitol Hill regarding APN and NP autonomy. • Cynthia Dowd has her hands in a lot:

o She presented an educa- • The Community Service ostomies and their tion poster at SAWC. Committee assisted in sponcaregivers. o Preceptor for Jamie soring the annual Special • The free program ofClements who is in the Buddy Connection for teens fers education, venwebWOC Program. with bowel and bladder condor time and networko Currently enrolling Mary ditions on May 5-6, 2012. ing. Randy Henniger, Immaculate Hospital • The Education Committee a Great Comebacks (MIH) wound care pawasted no time in getting National Awards retients for a prospective plans initiated for our annual cipient was the keyresearch project through conference being held at the note speaker. the Western IRB-includes Ala Moana Hotel. Speakers • Visit www.iowawocn. wound centers- MIH and will discuss inflammatory org to learn more Inova Georgetown. bowel conditions, rashes, about planning an os• Cindy Miller, Debbie Barber, wound care of acute/trautomy education day. Claudia Thomas, are active matic wounds and malignant o In June, 20 Iowa Affiliate participants on the Virginia wounds. There will also be members attended the Pressure Ulcer Resource some hands-on sessions. WOCN Society’s 44th AnTeam (VPURT). nual Conference. • The Affiliate would like to • Valerie Holloway and Joe • The 14th annual fall consay, “e komo mai” – come Kraft were recently certiference will be held Sept. and join us at the WOCN Sofied in ostomy care and 20-21, 2012 in West Des ciety’s Hawaii Affiliate 2012 Karen Votava recertified as Moines. See our website for Conference on Oct. 5, 2012. a CWCN. Phyllis Kohlman details. We know you will enjoy our recertified as a CWON. wonderful weather, expand • The Affiliate is currently your knowledge and have Metro NY Affiliate organizing a WOC team for lots of fun while enjoying the • On June 7, Maimonides local CCFA walk on Sept. sun. Medical Center in Brooklyn 30, 2012. and members of the Affiliate Iowa Affiliate held an Ostomy Symposium. Hawaii Affiliate • The Affiliate has participated More than 100 participants • The members have been in many WOCN events the attended. They received babusy planning another excitpast few months. sic ostomy education, paring year. o In April, Sandy Rohr, ticipated in hands on work• The Professional Practice president-elect of the shops and panel discussions Committee is exploring ways affiliate attended WOC and learned more about the to expand the educational Nurse in Washington. United Ostomy Associations opportunities. They added o Sponsored the 4th Anof America (UOAA). educational workshops and nual Ostomy Education • On July 21, the Affiliate held plan to coordinate short venDay in May. a wellness day called Heal dor presentations at meet• This program is tarthe Healers. ings. geted at people with • The Affiliate is currently accepting nominations for www.wocn.org

Regional News president, president-elect and secretary.

Mid-Atlantic Region (MAR)

• The MAR was well represented at many WOC nursing events the past few months. o Richard Schneider represented the MAR at the WOC Nurse in Washington in April. o Many members attended the WOCN Society’s 44th Annual Conference. o Sixty-six people attended the MAR regional meeting. o Congratulations to MAR member, Harriet Pilert, for being awarded with the Annual Great Comebacks “WOC Nurse Award.” • The MAR Fall Conference, Navigating the Changing Tides in Wound, Ostomy and Continence Practice, will take place Oct. 25-27, 2012 in Ocean City, Md. Dot Goodman, Ann Williams, cochairs of the MAR Continuing Education Committee, along with Wendy Surguy and the Eastern Shore Affiliate have planned a fabulous program. Please visit www. marwocn.org for more information.

WOCNews

Issue 3 • 2012

Mideast Region (MER)

• Members presented at the WOCN Society’s 44th Annual Conference. o The posters presenters were as follows: Joan Van Heck and Katherine Zimnicki. o Oral presentations were as follows: Jeremy Honaker and Joy Pitman. • Cecilia Krusling, co-chair of the Reimbursement Task Force that wrote Reimbursement of APRN Services: A Fact Sheet, found in the JWOCN March/April 2012 Supplement. • The regional conference will be held in Grand Rapids, Mich., Sept. 27-29, 2012. • Elections are coming up. Positions on the ballot are president-elect, secretary, trustee 2 and 4. If you are interested please contact Linda Stricker at strickl3@ ccf.org. • Dea Kent, MER past president, has been elected secretary of the WOCN Society. • Thanks to Joy Pitman and the National Conference Planning Committee for pulling off another fantastic annual conference.

North Central Affiliate

• Members are continuing to work in various clinical settings, working to educate staff, and mentor nurses in a variety of care areas. They are discussing the possibility of holding a September meeting.

North Central Region (NCR)

• Welcome to the new board members who will take office in the fall: Shirley Stille – president, Kathy Demmer – president-elect, Cathy Wiebers – South Dakota representative and Beth Wood – North Dakota representative. • New volunteers include: Sandra Bentley-William – professional practice chair, Tracey Hammel – clinical/ professional practice chair and Sherry Kloha – media/ communications chair. • NCR made quite an appearance at the WOCN Society’s 44th Annual Conference. o Speakers: Donna Bliss, Debra Netsch, JoAnn Ermer-Seltun, Bonnie Westra and Shawneen Schmitt. o Poster presenters: Jeanean Bauerm, Kathy Knetter, Shirley Stille, Jeanne Stadler and Shawneen Schmitt.

com and conference rego Apologies to those we istration information will may have missed. soon be available on the • Congratulations are in order website. for many NCR members! • The NER would like to higho Angela N. Ikeri won the light Kelly Klucsarits for WOC Scholarship. obtaining certification as o Sandra Bentley-Williams an Advanced Certified Hywon the WOC Nurse in perbaric Registered Nurse Washington scholarship. (ACHRN). o Susan Omann received the 2012 Excellence Award. Northern Illinois o Julie Niedermeyer won Affiliate the new member lottery • April was a busy month for for the all-expense paid the Affiliate. fall regional conference o Members represented the attendance. Affiliate at WOC Nurse in o Vicki Haugen received the Washington. 2012 Manuscript Award o The Affiliate also sponfor clinical practice in sored the 19th Annual JWOCN. Community Education • The NCR fall regional conferDay – Skin and Wound ence, Falling for WOC NursCare: Get in the Game. ing, will take place at the More than 240 nurse atEmbassy Suites in Bloomtendees gathered on April ington, Minn. 24. • Visit our new, updated web• Several members presented site www.northcentralregion. posters at the WOCN Soorg. ciety’s 44th Annual Conference. Northeast Region • Recently published members: Maria Lourdes de (NER) • The NER is currently preparOcampo, Nancy Chaiken ing for their regional conand Anne Schuerich. ference, Learning from our • Holding The Annual ProfesJourney, Oct. 19-21, 2012 in sional Education Day of the Princeton, N.J. The Delaware NIA on Sept. 19, 2012. Valley Affiliate is hosting the • Usha Patel resigned as secevent. retary and re-elections will o Hotel information can be occur in September. found at www.nerwocn.

Northwest Region (NWR)

• Seeking nominations for WOC Nurse of the Year for the region. • Looking for members to fill a few positions. o Regional secretary, nominations chair and subcommittee positions are available. o Please look to the website for more information or contact Vickie Mueller for more information. • The fall conference will be held in Portland, Ore. from Oct. 25-27, 2012. The list of speakers includes many well-known individuals. • We send out a special thanks to all who attended our regional meeting in Charlotte at the WOCN Society’s 44th Annual Conference. • Visit the NWR website www. nwregionwocn.org for more information on these topics.

Pacific Coast Region (PCR)

• PCR proudly announces the first presentation of the Gene Galindo Memorial Award. o Established in August 2006, the fund pays tribute to an individual who was dedicated to improving the life of individuals with ostomies.

www.wocn.org

Regional News 1. Sponsor at least one o The Scholarship Commitmember as a Youth tee selected the following Camp counselor each winners: Donna Lehker, year. Pam Rockstead Zoe Mann and Judy Stawill be a counselor at suk, Youth Camp this year. • PCR awarded funds to a 2. Sponsor a child to member to attend UOAA attend camp in the Youth Rally. summer, in memory • You can visit www.pcr.org for of Mary Ludwig, a more information on scholpediatric WOC nurse arships (open to all WOCN who passed away this members) and the 2013 year. Rose Parade Nurses’ Float. • Congratulations to Bridget • Save the date for the PCR Brauns for being awarded a annual conference, Feb. 28 scholarship for certification. March 2, 2013 in Pasadena, Calif. (with a pre-conference • The RMR fall regional conference, Advancing the debridement workshop). Practice of Wound, Ostomy, • Elections for PCR will be Continence Care, will take held in September. place in Phoenix, from Sept. 13-15, 2012. Rocky Mountain • The region will hold elections Region (RMR) for president and secretary • RMR made appearances in September. at a couple WOCN Society events. Southeast Region o Derik Alexander, RMR vice-president, attended (SER) WOC Nurse in Washing- • Three active members and ton. one RN interested in WOC o Three members won nursing will be awarded scholarships to attend scholarships to attend the th the WOCN Society’s 44 SER annual conference. Annual Conference. • Online voting for SER ofo Other members presentficers is now open. Posied posters while in Chartions include, president, vice lotte. president, director – awards • Youth Camp and director communicao Established two funds for tions. Visit www.serwocn.org Youth Camp this year: to cast your vote.

WOCNews

• Congrats to Joanna Burgess, who was awarded this years’ Great Comebacks National Award. • Dorothy Doughty will teach the WOCN Certification Review Course Sept. 26-27, 2012. Visit www.serwocn.org for more details. • The SER annual conference, WOCN Nurses Embracing Change with Southern Grace, will be held Sept. 2730, 2012 in Savannah, Ga. • Like SER WOCN Society on Facebook at www.facebook. com/serwocn.

St. Louis Affiliate

• The Affiliate is working to improve by encouraging members to get more involved and join committees. Meetings will now be monthly to increase participation and networking. • Sheila Kramer is participating in a wound clinical trial. Roxy Lupien and Janette Dietzler are participating in a clinical trial on ostomy patients. • Some Affiliate members were poster presenters at the WOCN Society’s 44th Annual Conference including, Roxy Lupien, Diana Economon, and Joann Hager. • Provided funding to various people and groups. They include: partial scholarships provided to two CWOCN continued on page 18

Issue 3 • 2012

Conference WOCN Society’s 44th Annual Conference Recap Diane Maydick, EdD, RN, ACNS-BC, CWOCN Past-Chair, Marketing Committee The Wound, Ostomy, and Continence Nurses Society’s 44th Annual Conference held in Charlotte, from June 9-13, 2012 is a conference that keeps on giving.

hands on activities. The content session provided an overview of the WTA Program and the activity session provided an opportunity for practicing skills such as Ankle Brachial Index, Semmes Weinstein Filament testing, and The theme Educating with Ideas application of a four-layer comfor Tomorrow provided attendpression bandaging system. ees with many take home ideas. The online version of the WTA Here are a few highlights: program will be available soon and approved WOC nurses will Wound Treatment be coordinators of the program. The online version of the proAssociate gram is still evolving.

and historical underpinnings of WOC nursing. The Tucson Affiliate recreated the theme on our 2012 WOC Nurse Week brochure with blue jewels on a bed of white tulle and little white lights. Another region displayed historical scrapbooks of previous conferences.

Can You Teach a PIG to Sing?

On the last day, Mary Jane Mapes, an inspirational speaker, provided the audience with Program useful and uplifting messages Several years ago WOCN memExhibit Hall to help us connect on a deeper bers recommended the Society The vendor hall seems to be level with people in our daily investigate a way to provide bigger and fuller each year and lives. The curious title of Mapes baseline education by the this year was no disappointrecent book, “You CAN teach a WOCN Society for other health ment. The booths were full of Pig to Sing…”, provided atcare providers. The Wound creative ideas to help us help tendees with useful strategies to Treatment Associate (WTA) each other and manage our help with stressful relationships Program has since been develchallenging patient care situwith Particularly Irksome Gals oped. A pre-conference session ations. There were ample op(or Guys). Her parting message was devoted to Train the Trainer portunities to participate in was that at any time a cloak of for the new program. The sesactivities including research, ed- acceptance could be donned, sion was open to all members ucation, dining on local delights, especially because the only perof the Society and over 200 and even massage therapy! son we can change is our own attendees registered. The regself. These tools for surviving istrants were divided into two Several regions and affiliates difficult situations provide just groups of 100 to provide both of the WOCN Society provided one example of why the conferthe learners with content and us with uplifting messages ence keeps on giving.

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Great Comebacks ®

Great Comebacks® National Award Event Honors WOC Nurses in Charlotte The WOCN Society’s 44th Annual Conference began again this year with a special Great Comebacks® National Awards Event on Saturday evening, recognizing four inspirational journeys to better health and the nurses and caregivers who have helped them find their destinies. The event’s 600 guests were moved as past years’ Great Comebacks® recipients introduced the video stories of this year’s regional recipients Joanna Burgess, Randy Henniger, Karen Lewis and Jenn Stahl.

The inspirational videos featuring this year’s recipients are now available on the YouTube channel at www. youtube.com/GreatComebacks and through www. greatcomebacks.com, as resources to help and encourage others who may be struggling with the challenges of ostomy surgery.

Those present at the event generously donated to two and says, “It is my promise to important causes: the WOCN carry these messages forward: Society Foundation and Youth Everyone has a story to tell; Rally. Almost $10,000 was everyone wants to be heard; and, We have the ability to help raised to help support nurses who are advancing their careers those who are facing difficult in wound and ostomy care and situations to fully come back young people with bowel or Joanna Burgess, an RN and into life.” bladder conditions. In addition certified WOC nurse from North to these organizations, Great Carolina, was honored with In a special presentation, East Comebacks® and ConvaTec, the this year’s National Award. At Region Recipient Jenn Stahl only three years old, Burgess program’s sponsor, would also also took the podium in tribwas diagnosed with a rare type ute to her nurse, Harriet Pilert, like to acknowledge the sup® of bladder cancer. Urostomy port of the WOCN Society, the named the Great Comebacks surgery and radiation therapy American Society of Colon and WOC Nurse of the Year. A RN, saved her life, but led to a lifeCOCN at Mercy Medical Center Rectal Surgeons (ASCRS), the time of complications, including in Baltimore, Pilert played a vital Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of difficulty walking and colitis, America (CCFA), and the United role in providing support and and ultimately, a colostomy. Ostomy Associations of Americomfort that led to a better life She persevered to realize her for Jenn and her family. Thanks ca (UOAA). Thank you to everydream of becoming a nurse and to Pilert’s encouragement, Stahl one who donated and to all who in 2008, gained her certification. says that instead of feeling “dif- attended this event! And, conToday, she continues to share gratulations again to the newest ferent” she now feels “amazher wisdom and tremendous joy ing.” members of the Great Comefor life with everyone she meets backs® family! 14

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Great Comebacks® WOC Nurse Award Jenn Stahl, a Great Comebacks® Award recipient, gave a speech about Harriet Pilert. Pilert won the “Great Comebacks® WOC Nurse Award.” Below is the speech she gave at the Great Comebacks® Awards Dinner June 9, 2012 at the WOCN Society’s 44th Annual Conference in Charlotte.

but he got up to leave because in his mind it seemed best. Harriet turned to him and said “Oh no you don’t. You get back here and be by your wife’s side and learn with her.” I had never seen my husband move so fast.

While at home recovering for weeks from pain and hardships, I came to think about Harriet and other wound care nurses. Wow, I Often when I first meet nurse who is strong, educated wondered, how many students someone I can tell if they are ei- and caring enters your life…. ther a teacher or a nurse. Both, Harriet Pilert was that person for asked what they want to be when they grow up say, “I want in my opinion, are by far the me. to grow up and change ostomy most amazing people. bags for living?” Who chooses I met Harriet after I was told, that? Good people, that’s who, Being a mom, and I’m sure while spending time in the and I wonder how I could have many of you can relate, I know emergency room because my gotten through my 22 years of how teachers help guide and body and spirit could not take Crohn’s disease without nurses. nurture our children, an amazing the pain any longer, that the task. And I know many of you only choice for me was to have Truthfully, I couldn’t have. here today see how a nurse car- an emergency ileostomy. So, thank you to Harriet and all ries those same qualities. the nurses here tonight and to After the shock with little time We all know how children can to prepare physically and emo- all the ones at home who helped me in my painful battle with be of course a blessing but tionally, Harriet let me cry and Crohn’s disease. Please rememoften challenging for teachcry some more. And when I ers. Just think how challengwas ready, she helped me to be ber that we are just mad, not at ing adults who are suffering an strong. I’ll never forget how right you, but at the cards that have enormous body altering change after my surgery, while I was still been handed to us. Continue to can be to nurses. in disbelief, but ready to accept take our hand and with God’s and be grateful for my new life, grace, give us the strength we need to be a teacher, a nurse, a A patient is depressed, mad, Harriet came into my room to mom or a storyteller. Thank you. sad, scared and at times ignocare for my ostomy. My husrant. But mostly mad…until a band, Michael, was by my side, www.wocn.org

Member Benefit

How Do You Compare? Sarah Penn • Marketing Coordinator, WOCN Society

Every four years, the Society disseminates a salary and productivity survey to the more than 4,700 WOCN members. Back in February, the Society urged members to respond to this survey to make the results as accurate as possible. A total of 1,602 members responded to the survey and answered questions about salary, hourly wages, nursing experience, type of care, certification and much • more. • • All of this information was • analyzed and gathered into one document, the 2012 WOC • Nursing Salary and Productivity Survey, which represents the • most complete, accurate and up-to-date compensation and • productivity data on the WOC nursing industry. You can easily compare your salary and pro• ductivity levels with peers. The data has been aggregated in the following groupings so users can compare their own data to the results of similar respondents. These aggregations include: • All respondents • Education Level

WOCNews

Issue 3 • 2012

Geographical Area Years of Nursing Experience Primary Practice Setting WOCNCB® Certified/Not Certified Licensed/Not Licensed Advance Practice Nurse Prescriptive Authority/No Prescriptive Authority Management Responsibility/ No Management Responsibilities Number of Licensed Beds (Acute Care Setting)

The 2012 WOC Nursing Salary and Productivity Survey is a great way to prepare for salary discussion for a new position or to negotiate a change in position based on the national averages. The broad scope of

information available to new members can help you define your job responsibilities and actual time spent in various roles in your current position. This document is a member benefit. To download the 2012 WOC Nursing Salary and Productivity Survey for free, visit the Empowerment Section on the WOCN website at www.wocn. org/empowerment. You can also download the document in the WOCN Bookstore* (www.wocn.org/bookstore). *Be sure to log in to the Member Center if you download the document from the Bookstore, otherwise you will be charged $50 for the document.

Scholarship Recipients

Congratulations to the 2012 Spring WOCN Society Foundation Scholarship Recipients Accredited Nursing Education Scholarship Kelly Chapman

Pamela Flores Ham

Leslie Linder

Lynn MacMaster

Christine Shank

Sarah Trapp

Gabriel Valdez Perez

Gretchen Ward

Whitney Ruiz

Advanced Nursing Education Scholarship Ruth Bryant

article continued from page 10 members, who just como Members made presenpleted their full certification tations: and support to UOA local • Berna Goldentyer chapter by providing “expert and Kathy Hugen panel” for a Q&A, as well as, presented “Beyond financial support of $500. the Basics: Improv• Will sponsor and present a ing Your Wound Care daylong seminar at the Eric Knowledge.” P. Newman Center on Wash• Karen Lou Kennedy ington University’s campus Evans presented Oct. 4, 2012. “How Can I Get Sued When I Did Everything Right.” Tucson Affiliate • Tonda Franklin pre• Sponsored a booth at the sented “Promoting Tucson Nurse Week ConferPressure Ulcer Preence to educate health care vention and Cost professionals regarding the Savings in a CardioWOC specialty and to provascular Hospital.” mote our traveling educa• Several members representtional workshops on Presed the Affiliate at the WOCN sure Ulcer Prevention and Society’s 44th Annual ConOstomy Basics. ference. 18

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o Had a booth in the exhibit hall showcasing accomplishments of the hard working group. o Tonda Franklin presented her poster “Promoting Pressure Ulcer Prevention and Cost Savings in a Cardiovascular Hospital.” • The Affiliate is busy planning its fall conference scheduled Sept. 22, 2012. • Congratulations to the following members on their recent certification/recertification: Kathy Mehaffey, Kelly Ingertson, Denise Ferrel, and Tonda Franklin.

Education

WOCN Society’s Continuing Education Center Brooke Bilofsky • Associate Meeting Manager Becky Dryden • Publications & Website Manager Debi Maines, CMP • Director of Meetings

Webcasts

Thanks to the generous support of ConvaTec, during the WOCN Society’s 44th Annual Conference held in Charlotte, there were several sessions that were available to those who could not attend the conference. If they were viewed live, there was the opportunity to receive CE credit. Those sessions are now archived under the Webcast portion of the new CEC site. You can view those as an archived session; however, they do not offer CE credit. Over the next several months, the Education Committee will be reviewing and writing post-test questions for those selected sessions that will be available on the Continuing Education section of the CEC. This is just another way that the WOCN Society is trying to offer more educational opportunities. A list of these sessions can be found under 2012 Live Section of the CEC site.

ference through the Conference Library section of the new CEC. If you were unable to visit the Hollister booth at conference, you should have received an email on how the sessions can be accessed. In the past this has been something that you have been able to purchase at the conference as a CD-Rom or as an online library pass. You are able to share this information with up to three of your fellow colleagues, so they can feel like they were a part of the Conference Wound Treatment conference. More importantly Library this will allow the education you Associate Thanks to the generous support received at the conference to be Program of Hollister, as an attendee at shared with your colleagues. Recognizing the increasing the conference you can access demand for skilled wound care all of the sessions held at conThe WOCN Society is excited to announce the Global Learning Center has been restructured as the Continuing Education Center. The CEC is the new home for the Conference Library, Webcasts, Continuing Education and the Wound Treatment Association (WTA) Program. All continuing education credits the WOCN Society offers can be found on the CEC (www. wocncec.org).

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in all care settings, including the military, the WOCN Society has developed an educational program designed to increase patient access to skilled wound care providers. The Wound Treatment Associate (WTA) Online Course is coming soon. WTA is a WOCN Society endorsed wound care educational program geared to nonspecialty nurses and medics/ corpsmen. After completion of the program, the wound treatment associate will receive a certificate of completion and will be prepared to function as an integral and valuable member of the wound care team.

CEC with your Member Center username and password. 2. If you are not a current WOCN member, but had a GLC account, you can log into the CEC with your old GLC username and password.

username (email). However, we are aware that since you were not able to change your username for the GLC that you might have more than one login that you can use to enter the CEC. If this is the case please contact the CECâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s technical support team, by We did our best with merging all phone at 800-679-3646 or information between the CEC, by the CEC support link Member Center and GLC ac(http://www.prolibraries.com/ counts. Please note: this could wocn/?select=support) and they only be done if all accounts will be able to work with you on were registered under the same merging your accounts together.

Continuing Education

The courses that were previously offered on the GLC have been moved over to the CEC (unless content was outdated) and are now available for you to purchase, in the Continuing Education Section of the CEC. Check out the 12 new courses that were released with the launch of the Continuing Education section! Tracks include wound, ostomy, continence and professional practice. Three new courses are in each section. How to log into the CEC: 1. If you are a current WOCN member, you can log into the www.wocn.org

Public Policy

Build the Airplane While Flying Suzanne Collins, MS, BSN, RN, CWOCN Public Policy Committee Chair Maureen Thompson, MSN, RN, CWOCN, hit “send” on her application package for the CMS Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation and began a unique personal adventure in fostering and disseminating health care reform. In doing so, she also showed the certified wound, ostomy, and continence nurse (CWOCN) role in a wonderful light: creative, collaborative, change-forward, and patient-centered. In her seven years of solo practice at a medium-sized urban hospital, Thompson was able to develop her own brand of wound, ostomy and continence (WOC) nursing, exercising the role as she saw fit: she managed selection of wound and ostomy products, beds, and rental equipment, across the spectrum of care. She developed all the education for nursing and allied staff, patients and their families related to wound, ostomy, and continence issues. She chaired the Pressure Ulcer Prevention Committee, and the Advanced Wound Care Task Force. She revamped the ostomy product line. Thompson became certified in gerontology

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by 50 percent. She instituted best practice wound care protocols and employed use of algorithms. Incidentally, Thompson was paid for her services out of two cost centers, and showed reduced cost of care, improved quality of care, and improved health for the residents of the nursing home. She was nearly too busy to notice the email from the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services, asking “Have you and medical-surgical nursing, as improved care processes and well as WOC nursing. saved money at your facility?” She took the time to write up One of her endeavors was con- the results of her collaborative sulting to the nurse practitioner teaching, policy-making, and (NP) managing wound treatment treatment efforts at the nursing at the nursing home affiliated home, and submitted them to with her hospital. The NP was the CMS Center for Medicare not thoroughly grounded in and Medicaid Innovation. wound care, and greatly appreciated Thompson’s expertise, Within a month, she was notiand her careful documentation fied that out of 920 applicants, of interventions and outcome. she was one of 73 people seThompson facilitated liaisons lected to join the CMS Center between the hospital and the for Medicare and Medicaid Innursing home and developed novation Advisors. She was the a process improvement projonly bedside clinician chosen to ect. Within three weeks of the join the group! beginning of the collaboration, Thompson’s work demonstrated In order to foster closeness and reduced incidence of all wounds idea generation, the Innovation

Advisors met in small hotels in workgroups of eight members each, located in the Baltimore area, about every quarter.

project to succeed nationwide without local modification. Not all of the Innovation Advisors’ projects were successful, but the ways in which they At the first meeting, the group failed were very important to the was shown a video of an airprocess of change. For examplane being built while flying: ple, a physician practicing at a “This is what we arehaving to small rural hospital in Maryland do in health care today,” the wanted to economically mobifacilitator stated. Then the stalize every patient over age 65, tistics review began: the U.S. specifically requiring that they is currently at 17.9 percent of be out of bed for all three meals the gross national product in a day, and study the impact of health care costs, second only this intervention of readmission to defense. We are deficient in rates and quality of life at home the quality of care delivery. We after discharge. The patients’ reare the only industrialized nation sponse to this mobilization was with more than one payor. documented in the chart. The nursing assistants were charged Each of the 73 participants with this task, but ran into a constructed a study which was roadblock: electronic medical expected to change as input recordkeeping had been instifrom the small groups inflututed at the facility and nursing ence development and execuassistants could not chart! This tion. Thompson’s project was ‘trigger point’ for failure is being the acute care hospital-nursing worked out at the hospital now. home process improvement project, which morphed signifi- Thompson states that each of cantly. the 73 Innovation Advisors has experienced a mindset change. “Is anyone holding meetings She recommends that as we with patients?” Was a quesstrive to change the care culture tion Thompson asked at each where we work, we start with Innovation Advisors session. people who enjoy change, first. She believes that patient selfresponsibility must be discovShe has developed what she ered and emphasized, as the calls an ‘elevator speech,’ to country’s population is too large encourage change within her and too heterogeneous for any organization. With her podiatric service doctors, she asked

the following questions in order to help them move in the right direction: “Think about a new way of getting paid: keep patients’ feet healthy. Bring your diabetics back every month for foot-health checks. Think about doing limb salvage, and preventive care, and getting paid for it. Then, email Medicare and write your process up for your podiatry journals about how to do it.” Thompson states she loved the experience of serving as an Innovation Advisor, and recommends that anyone strive to join the work. She believes it has permanently changed her practice, and her orientation toward the entire health care delivery system. Without question, she believes that the WOC nurse has unique, very rich contributions to make to the future of health care, by starting where they are right now. Participation as a Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation Advisor is a year-long position, and a participant must be employed directly in a health care setting. For more information about the Innovation Advisors program, visit http:// innovations.cms.gov/initiatives/ Innovation-Advisors-Program/ index.html

www.wocn.org

Director’s Corner

Director’s Corner Regina F. Holmes, MSN, RN, CWOCN, FNP-BC • Director, WOCN Society

It seems like just yesterday that I believe the best I started as one of your Direcis yet to be! I hope tors-at-Large within the WOCN that I have inspired Society, but I am now beginning someone out there my second term and I thank you to become involved all for your support and encouragement. From time to time and more active within board members are asked to this great Society, write an article for WOCNews.

which I love!

I thought I might take this time to let you know what it is like from my point of view to be a board member; the duties involved, lessons learned and general overview of my thoughts about the standing and direction of the WOCN Society. The goal is to give you a better understanding of what we do and to encourage you all to become involved at any level within the organization. When I accepted the nomination and became elected to the board I realized this was a great responsibility. Having the best interest of the WOCN membership is at the fore front of all the vital votes and decisions that I would make as a board member. I do not take the job lightly; it is a voluntary job that requires time and thoughtful insight. De-

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cisions made essentially affect each and every member of the Society, which extends to the patients we care for, the health care industry, and general public at large.

also work as an ER NP aside from my WOC nurse consultations). I need plenty of time to review and prepare for scheduled board meeting as well as unexpected meetings. The position requires time away for conferences and meetings such as strategic planning and annual board meetings. This gives you an idea of the time required to get the job done. I am especially proud of the decisions the WOCN Society has made and accomplishments made during my time on the board. It is truly an exciting time in the life of the WOC nurse. I dare say that looking back this will be noted as the era of great technologic advancement and great leadership within the Society. I would say we have become very high tech! We have completed the Wound Treatment Associate (WTA) Program and are moving forward to provide this course online; we are on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.

Being a board member requires time. You must have a concerted agreement with yourself, your family, and your employer about the time needed to carry out the duties assigned to you. Prior to taking the position I discussed with my employer the need to be off the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Tuesday of each month for oversight of the Wound and Membership Committees as their board liaison, as well as, the monthly board meetings. My employer agreed to allow me the time needed and insured We could and would not be as successful as we are without me that I would not be posted the leadership at our assoon Tuesday nights in the ER (I

ciation management company, which includes Nicolette Zuecca and her brilliant team. We are more marketable than ever before, not only to the membership, but at a whole new level via the consumer. The consumer includes health care colleagues such as physicians and other licensed independent practitioners, physicianâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s assistants, physical therapists, hospitals, organizations and industry who all want availability of our products.

I believe the best is yet to be! I hope that I have inspired someone out there to become involved and more active within this great Society, which I love! If I can do it, anyone can! Finally, would I do it again? Obviously the answer is yes! I will always be involved with the

WOCN Society at some level, whether it is a document reviewer, serving on a committee, authoring a paper, being a committee chair, holding an office or being a loyal and supportive member. The benefits will always outweigh the time and sacrifices given!

Last, but not least, we would be in a heck of a mess, like a sinking ship sans a great captain, without our President Kate Lawrence. President Lawrence is a kind, sweet, humble, and gracious person, and also a great leader. She reviews documents with meticulous detail, as did her predecessor, Dr. Bonham, and always has that burning question that we all did not think to ask. She is always well prepared for all of our board meetings and she leads and conducts them in an organized fashion yielding positive outcomes.

www.wocn.org

Combat Care

Living with an Ostomy in the Military Sarah Penn • Marketing Coordinator, WOCN Society Compiled from articles from www.greatcomebacks.com Chief Warrant Office 4 Robert Cuyler’s wanted his fellow soldiers to know that life after an ostomy was fulfilling. Cuyler battled ulcerative colitis for years, until in July 2007, doctors removed his entire colon. This surgery would usually result in a discharge from active duty, but he wasn’t going to settle for that. After some rigorous research and physical therapy, Cuyler was cleared to return back to active duty and was deployed for 12 months shortly after. The Great Comebacks® Program, sponsored by ConvaTec Inc., awarded him with the Tony Snow Public Service Award in 2009. The Tony Snow Public Service Award, named in memory of the former White House advisor and news broadcaster who was an Honorary Great Comebacks Award recipient in 2006, was created to honor extraordinary individuals who are passionate about serving their country while dealing courageously with debilitating intestinal diseases and ostomy surgery.

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Cuyler educates ostomy patients on strategies to be healthy and live life to the fullest after surgery. And he practices what he preaches.

Since becoming the first recipient of the Tony Snow Award for Public Service in 2009, Cuyler has continued on multiple missions–as a helicopter pilot on active duty and now working with the U.S. Army and United Ostomy Associations of America (UOAA) to advocate for their veteran’s outreach program.

marathons for ostomates. He was recognized in a story from the Department of Defense for his achievements.

Cuyler feels very fortunate that he was in a unit whose doctors and commanders did not jump to conclusions. They gave him time to get well and based decisions on his demonstrated Through the outreach properformance. Cuyler credits the gram, Cuyler educates ostomy support of his wife Tammy, who patients on strategies to be keeps the home fires burning healthy and live life to the fullest in Hannibal, N.Y., as well as his after surgery. And he practices daughter Megan and son Jared what he preaches. Each week, for giving him the strength and Cuyler runs a half marathon, or motivation to keep pushing 13.1 miles, to both challenge forward. himself and give hope to other ostomates who are adjustCuyler’s hope is that his story ing to life with a stoma. When will inspire or help open a door deployed in Afghanistan, Cuyler for other ostomates to pursue continued to run while raising their lives, dreams and pasmoney from sponsors of his sions.

Member Spotlight

A Mother and Daughter Power Team WOCN members, Jamie and Alecia Tamburino, interviewed with WOCN Marketing Coordinator, Sarah Penn, and WOCN Membership Coordinator, Emily Fest, about their work, their hopes and life as a WOC nurse.

Why did you want to become a WOC nurse? Jamie Tamburino: I’ve had a long career as a nurse and became certified in WOC nursing at LaSalle University in Philadelphia. I’ve worked in a variety of settings and now serve as the wound program manager at Abington Memorial Hospital. Alecia Tamburino: I guess you could say my mom influenced me to go into WOC nursing. I like being able to educate my patients and make them feel better about what is happening to their body. It means the world when a patient remembers you and what you did for them.

How large of a role do you feel experience plays in your day-to-day work? JT: I believe experience plays a huge role in day-to-day work. I take my experiences over the past years and share them with younger WOC nurses. Educating them can help guarantee that your facility will run to its full potential. AT: I agree with my mom. The more you retain from evidencebased practice gives you more information to assess patients in the future. All nurses share their experiences to educate each other. We can all learn from each other.

AT: As I’m starting my career, I would say the networking and support of the Society are important to me. I know I have access to a large group of individuals who can teach me or provide words of encouragement in my day-to-day work.

What is the biggest misconception about your job and/or what would you like to set the record straight regarding WOC nurses?

JT: I would say over the years, WOC nursing has elevated to a “standard of care.” We’re starting to show individuals the value of having WOC nurses in facilities. For example, patients are recovering quicker. It’s not Where do you work? How has the Society about understanding the value helped you in your JT: I work at Abington Memoanymore, it’s about seeing it. rial Hospital in Abington, Pa. as day-to-day work? Saying that, I believe there is a the wound program manager. I JT: I would definitely say the oversee three WOC nurses. annual conferences and regional huge misconception of nurses conferences play a huge role in who come across as WOC AT: I also work at Abington my day-to-day work. I enjoy the nurses. There is a difference and we need to continue to show Memorial Hospital, however, am poster sessions to hear what not a functioning WOC nurse other people are doing and how the value of employee certified WOC nurses. because my mother cannot be I can apply those things in my my supervisor. Instead, I am an facility. I also like to hear which “acting WOC nurse” working products other facilities or using AT: I agree with my mom, but I’d also like to say a misconception with wound and post-op osso I can compare them to my is that nurses are “born” to do tomy patients. own.

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our jobs. I don’t think we’re born to do it, but rather it’s something we truly want to do. I recently had a patient who was a young girl, with two young children who had a permanent ostomy. You could see it in her face that she was struggling and going through one of the worst times of her life. I taught her what she needed to know and brought her out of that worst time. It’s a great feeling.

Jamie, why did you want to get more involved with the Society as a Region and Affiliate president? How has this leadership role helped your career? Do you see yourself moving up to the National level of leadership? JT: I liked the responsibility and respect that came with the role. I love when nurses come to me with questions or for advice. It makes me feel like the work I’ve done over the past years is benefiting our future nurses. I’m really proud of our region. We have a great membership, seeing about 25 to 30 people at every meeting! I love the challenge of stepping up to a leadership role

at the National level. I can see myself in the future taking on that task.

Alecia, do you want to get more involved in the Society like your mom? AT: I’m still new the Society so I’m going to see where I fit in, but I’d love to get more involved to help further the profession, as well as, get more experience.

Alecia, what are the advantages and disadvantages of having your mother in the same field as you? AT: There are definitely no disadvantages of working with my mother. She has so much experience and stories that I can learn from. She’s a great asset to have; she never denies any of my questions, taking the time to thoroughly answer and make sure I understand. I guess you could say there are challenges though. She is widely known; I hope to fill her shoes and live up to expectations. Alecia laughed, and then said, “Wait! Maybe there is one disadvantage – if we ever have to compete for the same job!”

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CCI

Use of High-Frequency Ultrasound to Detect Heel Pressure Injury in Elders Elizabeth I. Helvig, MS, RN, CWOCN This study grew out of a personpressure injury in this same al experience with a heel injury population? that developed during a brief surgical hospitalization, result3. Can high-frequency ultraing in heel pain upon pressure sound predict the developthat persisted for about eight ment of clinically undetectmonths. I was curious about able to clinically detectable the chronic nature of pressure pressure ulcers over a two to injury, leading me to wonder seven-day period? about the prevalence of heel injuries in at-risk geriatric medi- Through monthly prevalence cal patients. surveys conducted over 13 months, we assessed the heels The objective was to examine of 520 patients who met the the usefulness of high-frequen- above criteria, finding 38 with cy ultrasound (HFU) to detect heel pressure ulcers for a prevaheel pressure injury in geriatric lence rate of 7.3 percent. One medical patients, to compare hundred of these 520 patients the prevalence rates of visualwho consented and underwent ized pressure ulcers with the a minimum of two heel ultraprevalence of hidden injury, and sounds at two-day intervals to determine if HFU could assist after the prevalence study made in predicting the development of up the research sample. Scans heel pressure injury. I had three were interpreted as normal, questions: borderline, or abnormal. Ten (10.1 percent) of the 100 pa1. What is the prevalence of tients had normal ultrasound clinically detectable heel scans of both heels at baseline. pressure ulcers in an in-paThe majority of scans were not tient population of geriatric normal. Eighteen (18.2 percent) medicine patients, with a patients had abnormal scans of Braden score of 10-17, who both heels and 23 (23.2 percent) have been hospitalized 28 had an abnormal and borderline days or less? scan. Not enough visible pressure ulcers developed in the 2. What is the prevalence of research population to answer heel injuries detectable by the third question. A statistihigh-frequency ultrasound cal correlation did not exist but without clinical signs of between abnormal scans and 30

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length of hospital stay or other associated factors, however the Braden friction/shear score showed a statistically significant relationship to injury in the right foot across time. One of the things I learned about the research process from doing this study was to keep notes on when and why changes were made which simplified the task of writing the manuscript. A second lesson was that having my research critiqued by two or three experienced nurse researchers helped me to formulate my ideas and process better, and working with conscientious research assistants helped me share struggles and delights. I highly recommend participating in research so you too can be delighted at where the journey takes you! This study required huge support from the Departments of Nursing and Nursing Research at Rochester General Hospital. I appreciate the hours of coaching, encouragement and data analysis that our hospital research nurse scientist, Lynn Nichols, PhD, RN, dedicated to this project. Visit www.wocn. org/news to read more about this and the people who made it possible.